diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/shared/utils/cli/shell/Shell.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/shared/utils/cli/shell/Shell.java
index bec555e0..d2573048 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/shared/utils/cli/shell/Shell.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/maven/shared/utils/cli/shell/Shell.java
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ void setShellArgs( String[] shellArgs )
      */
     String[] getShellArgs()
     {
-        if ( ( shellArgs == null ) || shellArgs.isEmpty() )
+        if ( shellArgs.isEmpty() )
         {
             return null;
         }