diff --git a/lib/events.js b/lib/events.js
index e7202bfedd0c55..f2702f3d15445c 100644
--- a/lib/events.js
+++ b/lib/events.js
@@ -423,17 +423,13 @@ EventEmitter.prototype.listeners = function listeners(type) {
   var ret;
   var events = this._events;
 
-  if (!events)
+  evlistener = events[type];
+  if (!evlistener)
     ret = [];
-  else {
-    evlistener = events[type];
-    if (!evlistener)
-      ret = [];
-    else if (typeof evlistener === 'function')
-      ret = [evlistener.listener || evlistener];
-    else
-      ret = unwrapListeners(evlistener);
-  }
+  else if (typeof evlistener === 'function')
+    ret = [evlistener.listener || evlistener];
+  else
+    ret = unwrapListeners(evlistener);
 
   return ret;
 };