diff --git a/src/auth.c b/src/auth.c
index fd4e063..b650a45 100644
--- a/src/auth.c
+++ b/src/auth.c
@@ -173,12 +173,7 @@
 	struct userlist *ul = test->ctx.a[0];
 	char *user = test->ctx.a[1];
 	char *pass = test->ctx.a[2];
-	unsigned int group_mask;
-
-	if (pattern)
-		group_mask = pattern->val.group_mask;
-	else
-		group_mask = 0;
+	unsigned int group_mask = pattern->val.group_mask;
 
 	if (check_user(ul, group_mask, user, pass))
 		return ACL_PAT_PASS;