diff --git a/Python/marshal.c b/Python/marshal.c
index 1b88ff964d1..facfa1c1670 100644
--- a/Python/marshal.c
+++ b/Python/marshal.c
@@ -882,7 +882,7 @@ r_object(RFILE *p)
                                 break;
                         }
 		}
-		retval = (v == NULL) ? NULL : v;
+		retval = v;
 		break;
 
 	case TYPE_CODE: