diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/MessageHandling.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/MessageHandling.scala
index d9017edc29..cfe69e33f3 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/MessageHandling.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/MessageHandling.scala
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ trait MessageDispatcher {
       val future = new DefaultCompletableFuture[T](timeout)
 
       if (active.isOff)
-        guard withGuard { if (active.isOff) active.switchOn { start } }
+        guard withGuard { active.switchOn { start } }
 
       executeFuture(FutureInvocation[T](future, block, futureCleanup))
       future