diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/ftpserver/filesystem/nativefs/impl/NativeFtpFile.java b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/ftpserver/filesystem/nativefs/impl/NativeFtpFile.java
index 6e833dc..4052ff6 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/ftpserver/filesystem/nativefs/impl/NativeFtpFile.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/ftpserver/filesystem/nativefs/impl/NativeFtpFile.java
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@
 
     @Override
     public boolean equals(Object obj) {
-        if (obj != null && obj instanceof NativeFtpFile) {
+        if (obj instanceof NativeFtpFile) {
             File thisCanonicalFile;
             File otherCanonicalFile;
             try {