diff --git a/compat/mingw.c b/compat/mingw.c
index 593aaa7517..88228ea63a 100644
--- a/compat/mingw.c
+++ b/compat/mingw.c
@@ -2654,12 +2654,6 @@ int readlink(const char *path, char *buf, size_t bufsiz)
 	char tmpbuf[MAX_LONG_PATH];
 	int len;
 
-	/* fail if symlinks are disabled */
-	if (!has_symlinks) {
-		errno = ENOSYS;
-		return -1;
-	}
-
 	if (xutftowcs_long_path(wpath, path) < 0)
 		return -1;