diff --git a/lib/buffer.js b/lib/buffer.js
index f43ec7acd86..876bdbe1cfd 100644
--- a/lib/buffer.js
+++ b/lib/buffer.js
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ Buffer.prototype.compare = function compare(target,
   if (start === undefined)
     start = 0;
   if (end === undefined)
-    end = target ? target.length : 0;
+    end = target.length;
   if (thisStart === undefined)
     thisStart = 0;
   if (thisEnd === undefined)