diff --git a/gtk/gtkmain.c b/gtk/gtkmain.c
index 726ee2e9ac..ed161d29b7 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkmain.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkmain.c
@@ -657,9 +657,9 @@ gtk_init (void)
 {
   if (!gtk_init_check ())
     {
-      const char *display_name_arg = NULL;
-      if (display_name_arg == NULL)
-        display_name_arg = getenv ("DISPLAY");
+      const char *display_name_arg;
+
+      display_name_arg = getenv ("DISPLAY");
       g_warning ("cannot open display: %s", display_name_arg ? display_name_arg : "");
       exit (1);
     }