diff --git a/src/omero/gateway/__init__.py b/src/omero/gateway/__init__.py
index 176800d55..ea308f6ba 100644
--- a/src/omero/gateway/__init__.py
+++ b/src/omero/gateway/__init__.py
@@ -2148,15 +2148,14 @@ def connect(self, sUuid=None):
             logger.debug("Ooops. no self._c")
             return False
         try:
-            if self.c is not None:
-                try:
-                    sid = self.c.getSessionId()
-                    # we have a session already from the client
-                    if sUuid is None or sid == sUuid:
-                        logger.debug('connected via client')
-                        return True
-                except omero.ClientError: # no session available
-                    pass
+            try:
+                sid = self.c.getSessionId()
+                # we have a session already from the client
+                if sUuid is None or sid == sUuid:
+                    logger.debug('connected via client')
+                    return True
+            except omero.ClientError: # no session available
+                pass
 
             if self._sessionUuid is None and sUuid:
                 self._sessionUuid = sUuid