diff --git a/drivers/nvdimm/security.c b/drivers/nvdimm/security.c
index 35d265014e1e..0e23d8c27792 100644
--- a/drivers/nvdimm/security.c
+++ b/drivers/nvdimm/security.c
@@ -379,11 +379,6 @@ static int security_overwrite(struct nvdimm *nvdimm, unsigned int keyid)
 			|| !nvdimm->sec.flags)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 
-	if (dev->driver == NULL) {
-		dev_dbg(dev, "Unable to overwrite while DIMM active.\n");
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
 	rc = check_security_state(nvdimm);
 	if (rc)
 		return rc;