diff --git a/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/events_bg_updates.py b/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/events_bg_updates.py
index a4cb64f47..18862adb9 100644
--- a/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/events_bg_updates.py
+++ b/synapse/storage/data_stores/main/events_bg_updates.py
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ class EventsBackgroundUpdatesStore(BackgroundUpdateStore):
                         for label in event_json["content"].get(
                             EventContentFields.LABELS, []
                         )
-                        if label is not None and isinstance(label, str)
+                        if isinstance(label, str)
                     ],
                 )