diff --git a/src/core/string.c b/src/core/string.c
index 5616927..bd92a71 100644
--- a/src/core/string.c
+++ b/src/core/string.c
@@ -61,9 +61,7 @@ void dom_string_destroy(dom_string *str)
 		assert(istr->base.refcnt == 0);
 		switch (istr->type) {
 		case DOM_STRING_INTERNED:
-			if (istr->data.intern != NULL) {
-				lwc_string_unref(istr->data.intern);
-			}
+			lwc_string_unref(istr->data.intern);
 			break;
 		case DOM_STRING_CDATA:
 			free(istr->data.cdata.ptr);
diff --git a/src/events/document_event.c b/src/events/document_event.c
index edabd92..c1c3c28 100644
--- a/src/events/document_event.c
+++ b/src/events/document_event.c
@@ -75,8 +75,7 @@ void _dom_document_event_internal_finalise(dom_document_event_internal *dei)
 	int i;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < DOM_EVENT_COUNT; i++) {
-		if (dei->event_types[i] != NULL)
-			lwc_string_unref(dei->event_types[i]);
+		lwc_string_unref(dei->event_types[i]);
 	}
 
 	return;