diff --git a/src/borg/testsuite/repository.py b/src/borg/testsuite/repository.py
index 8c44c00f8..4a699bb6c 100644
--- a/src/borg/testsuite/repository.py
+++ b/src/borg/testsuite/repository.py
@@ -65,8 +65,7 @@ class RepositoryTestCaseBase(BaseTestCase):
         shutil.rmtree(self.tmppath)
 
     def reopen(self, exclusive=UNSPECIFIED):
-        if self.repository:
-            self.repository.close()
+        self.repository.close()
         self.repository = self.open(exclusive=exclusive)
 
     def add_keys(self):