diff --git a/usr.bin/tar/write.c b/usr.bin/tar/write.c
index ec83b6064d6..8fe0530539c 100644
--- a/usr.bin/tar/write.c
+++ b/usr.bin/tar/write.c
@@ -932,8 +932,7 @@ abort:
 	if (fd >= 0)
 		close(fd);
 
-	if (entry != NULL)
-		archive_entry_free(entry);
+	archive_entry_free(entry);
 }