diff --git a/lib/krb5/context.c b/lib/krb5/context.c
index 65dc3f124..fe8e816c1 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/context.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/context.c
@@ -449,10 +449,10 @@ krb5_free_context(krb5_context context)
     krb5_set_extra_addresses(context, NULL);
     krb5_set_ignore_addresses(context, NULL);
     krb5_set_send_to_kdc_func(context, NULL, NULL);
-    if (context->mutex != NULL) {
-	HEIMDAL_MUTEX_destroy(context->mutex);
-	free(context->mutex);
-    }
+
+    HEIMDAL_MUTEX_destroy(context->mutex);
+    free(context->mutex);
+
     memset(context, 0, sizeof(*context));
     free(context);
 }