diff --git a/src/jtag/jtag.c b/src/jtag/jtag.c
index 985cf8c2d..e9802e172 100644
--- a/src/jtag/jtag.c
+++ b/src/jtag/jtag.c
@@ -1467,7 +1467,6 @@ int jtag_init(struct command_context_s *cmd_ctx)
 		if (validate_tries > 5)
 		{
 			ERROR("Could not validate JTAG chain, exit");
-			jtag = NULL;
 			return ERROR_JTAG_INVALID_INTERFACE;
 		}
 		usleep(10000);