diff --git a/common/types.go b/common/types.go
index d6a68c8ba9..fe9b6f432e 100644
--- a/common/types.go
+++ b/common/types.go
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ func ExtractAddressToBytes(penalties []Address) []byte {
 }
 
 func ExtractAddressFromBytes(bytePenalties []byte) []Address {
-	if bytePenalties != nil && len(bytePenalties) < AddressLength {
+	if len(bytePenalties) < AddressLength {
 		return []Address{}
 	}
 	penalties := make([]Address, len(bytePenalties)/AddressLength)