diff --git a/object-file.c b/object-file.c
index 160ae093cc..c16b2c2ac1 100644
--- a/object-file.c
+++ b/object-file.c
@@ -1676,10 +1676,6 @@ static void odb_transaction_files_commit(struct odb_transaction *base)
 struct odb_transaction *odb_transaction_files_begin(struct odb_source *source)
 {
 	struct odb_transaction_files *transaction;
-	struct object_database *odb = source->odb;
-
-	if (odb->transaction)
-		return NULL;
 
 	transaction = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*transaction));
 	transaction->base.source = source;
diff --git a/object-file.h b/object-file.h
index 528c4e6e69..ea43d818f0 100644
--- a/object-file.h
+++ b/object-file.h
@@ -194,8 +194,7 @@ struct odb_transaction;
 /*
  * Tell the object database to optimize for adding
  * multiple objects. odb_transaction_files_commit must be called
- * to make new objects visible. If a transaction is already
- * pending, NULL is returned.
+ * to make new objects visible.
  */
 struct odb_transaction *odb_transaction_files_begin(struct odb_source *source);