diff --git a/core/encoding/json/parser.odin b/core/encoding/json/parser.odin
index 0b9a1cf33..c682ec9bd 100644
--- a/core/encoding/json/parser.odin
+++ b/core/encoding/json/parser.odin
@@ -281,11 +281,6 @@ parse_object :: proc(p: ^Parser) -> (value: Value, err: Error) {
 
 // IMPORTANT NOTE(bill): unquote_string assumes a mostly valid string
 unquote_string :: proc(token: Token, spec: Specification, allocator := context.allocator) -> (value: string, err: Error) {
-	if allocator.data == nil {
-		// We were called from `unmarshal_count_array`, return early.
-		return "", nil
-	}
-
 	get_u2_rune :: proc(s: string) -> rune {
 		if len(s) < 4 || s[0] != '\\' || s[1] != 'x' {
 			return -1