diff --git a/src/gc.c b/src/gc.c
index 4f6b1f573..f1f9decbc 100644
--- a/src/gc.c
+++ b/src/gc.c
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ mrb_gc_register(mrb_state *mrb, mrb_value obj)
   table = mrb_gv_get(mrb, GC_ROOT_SYM);
   int ai = mrb_gc_arena_save(mrb);
   mrb_gc_protect(mrb, obj);
-  if (mrb_nil_p(table) || !mrb_array_p(table)) {
+  if (!mrb_array_p(table)) {
     table = mrb_ary_new(mrb);
     mrb_obj_ptr(table)->c = NULL; /* hide from ObjectSpace.each_object */
     mrb_gv_set(mrb, GC_ROOT_SYM, table);