diff --git a/src/network/bridge_driver.c b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
index d27a7e9b88..e507dcd4c5 100644
--- a/src/network/bridge_driver.c
+++ b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
@@ -2405,9 +2405,6 @@ networkShutdownNetwork(virNetworkDriverState *driver,
 
     VIR_INFO("Shutting down network '%s'", def->name);
 
-    if (!virNetworkObjIsActive(obj))
-        return 0;
-
     stateFile = virNetworkConfigFile(cfg->stateDir, def->name);
     if (!stateFile)
         return -1;