diff --git a/monitor/misc.c b/monitor/misc.c
index f2ee7cd77a..33d0dae2e8 100644
--- a/monitor/misc.c
+++ b/monitor/misc.c
@@ -136,11 +136,7 @@ char *qmp_human_monitor_command(const char *command_line, bool has_cpu_index,
     handle_hmp_command(&hmp, command_line);
 
     WITH_QEMU_LOCK_GUARD(&hmp.common.mon_lock) {
-        if (qstring_get_length(hmp.common.outbuf) > 0) {
-            output = g_strdup(qstring_get_str(hmp.common.outbuf));
-        } else {
-            output = g_strdup("");
-        }
+        output = g_strdup(qstring_get_str(hmp.common.outbuf));
     }
 
 out: