diff --git a/bootstrap b/bootstrap
index a84eb39..cac656d 100755
--- a/bootstrap
+++ b/bootstrap
@@ -53,9 +53,6 @@ case ${GNULIB_SRCDIR--} in
     echo "$0: getting gnulib files..."
     git submodule update || exit $?
     GNULIB_SRCDIR=.gnulib
-  else
-    echo >&2 "$0: invalid gnulib srcdir: $GNULIB_SRCDIR"
-    exit 1
   fi
   ;;
 esac