diff --git a/src/cff/cffobjs.c b/src/cff/cffobjs.c
index 7764a7edd..7c6713739 100644
--- a/src/cff/cffobjs.c
+++ b/src/cff/cffobjs.c
@@ -694,8 +694,7 @@
         FT_UInt  instance_index = (FT_UInt)face_index >> 16;
 
 
-        if ( FT_HAS_MULTIPLE_MASTERS( cffface ) &&
-             instance_index > 0                 )
+        if ( FT_HAS_MULTIPLE_MASTERS( cffface ) )
         {
           error = FT_Set_Named_Instance( cffface, instance_index );
           if ( error )
diff --git a/src/truetype/ttobjs.c b/src/truetype/ttobjs.c
index 71d11c9c1..3cdbfff1b 100644
--- a/src/truetype/ttobjs.c
+++ b/src/truetype/ttobjs.c
@@ -784,8 +784,7 @@
       FT_UInt  instance_index = (FT_UInt)face_index >> 16;
 
 
-      if ( FT_HAS_MULTIPLE_MASTERS( ttface ) &&
-           instance_index > 0                )
+      if ( FT_HAS_MULTIPLE_MASTERS( ttface ) )
       {
         error = FT_Set_Named_Instance( ttface, instance_index );
         if ( error )