diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/ibatis/reflection/MetaObject.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/ibatis/reflection/MetaObject.java
index 06c3df79f65..4f5ae2e39e3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/ibatis/reflection/MetaObject.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/ibatis/reflection/MetaObject.java
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ public void setValue(String name, Object value) {
     if (prop.hasNext()) {
       MetaObject metaValue = metaObjectForProperty(prop.getIndexedName());
       if (metaValue == SystemMetaObject.NULL_META_OBJECT) {
-        if (value == null && prop.getChildren() != null) {
+        if (value == null) {
           // don't instantiate child path if value is null
           return;
         } else {