diff --git a/src/rc/start-stop-daemon.c b/src/rc/start-stop-daemon.c
index da2a81af..b6316ec3 100644
--- a/src/rc/start-stop-daemon.c
+++ b/src/rc/start-stop-daemon.c
@@ -1183,8 +1183,6 @@ start_stop_daemon(int argc, char **argv)
 			pamr = pam_start("start-stop-daemon",
 			    "nobody", &conv, &pamh);
 
-		if (pamr == PAM_SUCCESS)
-			pamr = pam_authenticate(pamh, PAM_SILENT);
 		if (pamr == PAM_SUCCESS)
 			pamr = pam_acct_mgmt(pamh, PAM_SILENT);
 		if (pamr == PAM_SUCCESS)