diff --git a/chardev/char.c b/chardev/char.c
index aee8b4555d..33dbab6981 100644
--- a/chardev/char.c
+++ b/chardev/char.c
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ void qemu_chr_parse_common(QemuOpts *opts, ChardevCommon *backend)
     const char *logfile = qemu_opt_get(opts, "logfile");
 
     backend->has_logfile = logfile != NULL;
-    backend->logfile = logfile ? g_strdup(logfile) : NULL;
+    backend->logfile = g_strdup(logfile);
 
     backend->has_logappend = true;
     backend->logappend = qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "logappend", false);