diff --git a/reclaim.c b/reclaim.c
index 5a4a043d0..1936110a4 100644
--- a/reclaim.c
+++ b/reclaim.c
@@ -889,7 +889,6 @@ static void* init_finalize_thread(void *arg)
 {
   while(1) {
     pthread_mutex_lock(&flzr_mtx);
-    flzr_can_work = GC_should_invoke_finalizers();
     while (flzr_can_work == 0) {
       pthread_cond_wait(&flzr_t_has_work, &flzr_mtx);
     }