diff --git a/backend/hp.c b/backend/hp.c
index 558a36d83..ec4340259 100644
--- a/backend/hp.c
+++ b/backend/hp.c
@@ -581,13 +581,9 @@ hp_get_dev (const char *devname, HpDevice* devp)
   DBG(3, "hp_get_dev: New device %s, connect-%s, scsi-request=%lu\n",
       devname, connect, (unsigned long)info->config.use_scsi_request);
 
-  if (!ptr)
-  {
-     status =  sanei_hp_device_new (&new, devname);
-
-     if ( status != SANE_STATUS_GOOD )
-       return status;
-  }
+  status = sanei_hp_device_new (&new, devname);
+  if (status != SANE_STATUS_GOOD)
+      return status;
 
   if (devp)
       *devp = new;
diff --git a/backend/hp3900_config.c b/backend/hp3900_config.c
index c48cb513b..c40920f00 100644
--- a/backend/hp3900_config.c
+++ b/backend/hp3900_config.c
@@ -1523,19 +1523,16 @@ static SANE_Int hp3800_checkstable(SANE_Int lamp, struct st_checkstable *check)
 
 	SANE_Int rst = ERROR;
 
-	if (reg != NULL)
-	{
-		SANE_Int a;
-		SANE_Int count = sizeof(reg) / sizeof(struct st_reg);
+	SANE_Int a;
+	SANE_Int count = sizeof(reg) / sizeof(struct st_reg);
 
-		for (a = 0; a < count; a++)
+	for (a = 0; a < count; a++)
+	{
+		if (reg[a].lamp == lamp)
 		{
-			if (reg[a].lamp == lamp)
-			{
-				memcpy(check, &reg[a].values, sizeof(struct st_checkstable));
-				rst = OK;
-				break;
-			}
+			memcpy(check, &reg[a].values, sizeof(struct st_checkstable));
+			rst = OK;
+			break;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1560,19 +1557,16 @@ static SANE_Int hp3970_checkstable(SANE_Int lamp, struct st_checkstable *check)
 
 	SANE_Int rst = ERROR;
 
-	if (reg != NULL)
-	{
-		SANE_Int a;
-		SANE_Int count = sizeof(reg) / sizeof(struct st_reg);
+	SANE_Int a;
+	SANE_Int count = sizeof(reg) / sizeof(struct st_reg);
 
-		for (a = 0; a < count; a++)
+	for (a = 0; a < count; a++)
+	{
+		if (reg[a].lamp == lamp)
 		{
-			if (reg[a].lamp == lamp)
-			{
-				memcpy(check, &reg[a].values, sizeof(struct st_checkstable));
-				rst = OK;
-				break;
-			}
+			memcpy(check, &reg[a].values, sizeof(struct st_checkstable));
+			rst = OK;
+			break;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1597,19 +1591,16 @@ static SANE_Int hp4370_checkstable(SANE_Int lamp, struct st_checkstable *check)
 
 	SANE_Int rst = ERROR;
 
-	if (reg != NULL)
-	{
-		SANE_Int a;
-		SANE_Int count = sizeof(reg) / sizeof(struct st_reg);
+	SANE_Int a;
+	SANE_Int count = sizeof(reg) / sizeof(struct st_reg);
 
-		for (a = 0; a < count; a++)
+	for (a = 0; a < count; a++)
+	{
+		if (reg[a].lamp == lamp)
 		{
-			if (reg[a].lamp == lamp)
-			{
-				memcpy(check, &reg[a].values, sizeof(struct st_checkstable));
-				rst = OK;
-				break;
-			}
+			memcpy(check, &reg[a].values, sizeof(struct st_checkstable));
+			rst = OK;
+			break;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1634,19 +1625,16 @@ static SANE_Int ua4900_checkstable(SANE_Int lamp, struct st_checkstable *check)
 
 	SANE_Int rst = ERROR;
 
-	if (reg != NULL)
-	{
-		SANE_Int a;
-		SANE_Int count = sizeof(reg) / sizeof(struct st_reg);
+	SANE_Int a;
+	SANE_Int count = sizeof(reg) / sizeof(struct st_reg);
 
-		for (a = 0; a < count; a++)
+	for (a = 0; a < count; a++)
+	{
+		if (reg[a].lamp == lamp)
 		{
-			if (reg[a].lamp == lamp)
-			{
-				memcpy(check, &reg[a].values, sizeof(struct st_checkstable));
-				rst = OK;
-				break;
-			}
+			memcpy(check, &reg[a].values, sizeof(struct st_checkstable));
+			rst = OK;
+			break;
 		}
 	}