diff --git a/ompi/mpi/c/request_get_status.c b/ompi/mpi/c/request_get_status.c
index eae1f57e43..502c267912 100644
--- a/ompi/mpi/c/request_get_status.c
+++ b/ompi/mpi/c/request_get_status.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ int MPI_Request_get_status(MPI_Request request, int *flag,
         OMPI_ERR_INIT_FINALIZE(FUNC_NAME);
         if( (NULL == flag) || (NULL == status) ) {
             return OMPI_ERRHANDLER_INVOKE(MPI_COMM_WORLD, MPI_ERR_ARG, FUNC_NAME);
-        } else if (NULL == request || MPI_REQUEST_NULL == request) {
+        } else if (NULL == request) {
             return OMPI_ERRHANDLER_INVOKE(MPI_COMM_WORLD, MPI_ERR_REQUEST,
                                           FUNC_NAME);
         }