diff --git a/scripts/qapi/introspect.py b/scripts/qapi/introspect.py
index a111cec725..7cce0de975 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi/introspect.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi/introspect.py
@@ -29,9 +29,7 @@ def _make_tree(obj, ifcond, extra=None):
         extra = {}
     if ifcond:
         extra['if'] = ifcond
-    if extra:
-        return (obj, extra)
-    return obj
+    return (obj, extra)
 
 
 def _tree_to_qlit(obj, level=0, dict_value=False):