diff --git a/http.c b/http.c
index d60f7f7679..d0cc1b3340 100644
--- a/http.c
+++ b/http.c
@@ -869,17 +869,6 @@ static int fetch_pack_index(unsigned char *sha1, const char *base_url)
 	char *url;
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 
-	/* Don't use the index if the pack isn't there */
-	end_url_with_slash(&buf, base_url);
-	strbuf_addf(&buf, "objects/pack/pack-%s.pack", hex);
-	url = strbuf_detach(&buf, 0);
-
-	if (http_get_strbuf(url, NULL, 0)) {
-		ret = error("Unable to verify pack %s is available",
-			    hex);
-		goto cleanup;
-	}
-
 	if (has_pack_index(sha1)) {
 		ret = 0;
 		goto cleanup;