diff --git a/sysctl.c b/sysctl.c
index aadc2330..834662b3 100644
--- a/sysctl.c
+++ b/sysctl.c
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ static int WriteSetting(const char *setting)
 	/* point to the value in name=value */
 	value = equals + 1;
 
-	if (!*name || !*value || name == equals) {
+	if (!*name || name == equals) {
 		xwarnx(_("malformed setting \"%s\""), setting);
 		return -2;
 	}