diff --git a/src/util/file_util.cpp b/src/util/file_util.cpp
index bf29af82ca6..d1cd3378a05 100644
--- a/src/util/file_util.cpp
+++ b/src/util/file_util.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ std::string get_current_working_directory()
   errno=0;
   char *wd=realpath(".", nullptr);
 
-  if(wd == nullptr || errno != 0)
+  if(wd == nullptr)
     throw system_exceptiont(
       std::string("realpath failed: ") + std::strerror(errno));
 
diff --git a/src/util/tempdir.cpp b/src/util/tempdir.cpp
index d61636b7dc4..7fd9f3230e9 100644
--- a/src/util/tempdir.cpp
+++ b/src/util/tempdir.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ std::string get_temporary_directory(const std::string &name_template)
   errno = 0;
   char *wd = realpath(td, nullptr);
 
-  if(wd == nullptr || errno != 0)
+  if(wd == nullptr)
     throw system_exceptiont(
       std::string("realpath failed: ") + std::strerror(errno));