diff --git a/src/backend/libpq/auth.c b/src/backend/libpq/auth.c
index e7571aaddbc..eaae83cc3a8 100644
--- a/src/backend/libpq/auth.c
+++ b/src/backend/libpq/auth.c
@@ -849,15 +849,13 @@ CheckPWChallengeAuth(Port *port, const char **logdetail)
 
 	if (shadow_pass)
 		pfree(shadow_pass);
-
-	/*
-	 * If get_role_password() returned error, return error, even if the
-	 * authentication succeeded.
-	 */
-	if (!shadow_pass)
+	else
 	{
+		/*
+		 * If get_role_password() returned error, authentication better not
+		 * have succeeded.
+		 */
 		Assert(auth_result != STATUS_OK);
-		return STATUS_ERROR;
 	}
 
 	if (auth_result == STATUS_OK)