diff --git a/lib/pure/unittest.nim b/lib/pure/unittest.nim
index d804ba7c83..aa07a4fa65 100644
--- a/lib/pure/unittest.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/unittest.nim
@@ -525,8 +525,6 @@ proc checkpoint*(msg: string) =
   ##  checkpoint("Checkpoint B")
   ##
   ## outputs "Checkpoint A" once it fails.
-  if checkpoints == nil:
-    checkpoints = @[]
   checkpoints.add(msg)
   # TODO: add support for something like SCOPED_TRACE from Google Test