diff --git a/backend/wayland/backend.c b/backend/wayland/backend.c
index 3dcb5ea7f..305db1b85 100644
--- a/backend/wayland/backend.c
+++ b/backend/wayland/backend.c
@@ -444,19 +444,11 @@ struct wlr_backend *wlr_wl_backend_create(struct wl_display *display,
 		wl->drm_fd = -1;
 	}
 
-	struct wlr_renderer *renderer = wlr_backend_get_renderer(&wl->backend);
-	struct wlr_allocator *allocator = backend_get_allocator(&wl->backend);
-	if (renderer == NULL || allocator == NULL) {
-		goto error_drm_fd;
-	}
-
 	wl->local_display_destroy.notify = handle_display_destroy;
 	wl_display_add_destroy_listener(display, &wl->local_display_destroy);
 
 	return &wl->backend;
 
-error_drm_fd:
-	close(wl->drm_fd);
 error_remote_display_src:
 	wl_event_source_remove(wl->remote_display_src);
 error_registry: