diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index ba6ee11ec4..140683115b 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -801,9 +801,7 @@ static void smp_parse(const char *optarg)
             threads = threads > 0 ? threads : 1;
             cores = smp / (sockets * threads);
         } else {
-            if (sockets) {
-                threads = smp / (cores * sockets);
-            }
+            threads = smp / (cores * sockets);
         }
     }
     smp_cpus = smp;