diff --git a/sound/synth/util_mem.c b/sound/synth/util_mem.c
index 1d9b11f345f..6fc3d2b2519 100644
--- a/sound/synth/util_mem.c
+++ b/sound/synth/util_mem.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ __snd_util_memblk_new(struct snd_util_memhdr *hdr, unsigned int units,
 	if (blk == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 
-	if (! prev || prev == &hdr->block)
+	if (prev == &hdr->block)
 		blk->offset = 0;
 	else {
 		struct snd_util_memblk *p = get_memblk(prev);