diff --git a/src/backend/optimizer/path/pathkeys.c b/src/backend/optimizer/path/pathkeys.c
index bcc1b7a9ebe..da6f457a3bf 100644
--- a/src/backend/optimizer/path/pathkeys.c
+++ b/src/backend/optimizer/path/pathkeys.c
@@ -2143,12 +2143,6 @@ pathkeys_useful_for_ordering(PlannerInfo *root, List *pathkeys)
 {
 	int			n_common_pathkeys;
 
-	if (root->query_pathkeys == NIL)
-		return 0;				/* no special ordering requested */
-
-	if (pathkeys == NIL)
-		return 0;				/* unordered path */
-
 	(void) pathkeys_count_contained_in(root->query_pathkeys, pathkeys,
 									   &n_common_pathkeys);
 
@@ -2184,10 +2178,6 @@ pathkeys_useful_for_grouping(PlannerInfo *root, List *pathkeys)
 	if (root->group_pathkeys == NIL)
 		return 0;
 
-	/* unordered path */
-	if (pathkeys == NIL)
-		return 0;
-
 	/* walk the pathkeys and search for matching group key */
 	foreach(key, pathkeys)
 	{