diff --git a/src/tools/gids-tool.c b/src/tools/gids-tool.c
index 8574af1f..b9b0a4a0 100644
--- a/src/tools/gids-tool.c
+++ b/src/tools/gids-tool.c
@@ -115,8 +115,7 @@ static int initialize(sc_card_t *card, const char *so_pin, const char *user_pin,
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (len == 0) {
-	} else if (len != 24) {
+	if (len != 24) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "The admin key must be a hexadecimal string of 48 characters\n");
 		return -1;
 	}