diff --git a/lib/_stream_writable.js b/lib/_stream_writable.js
index e2343e63f9c..fd0cd115b4c 100644
--- a/lib/_stream_writable.js
+++ b/lib/_stream_writable.js
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ Writable.prototype.write = function(chunk, encoding) {
     return;
   }
 
-  if (typeof chunk === 'string' && encoding)
+  if (typeof chunk === 'string')
     chunk = new Buffer(chunk, encoding);
 
   var ret = state.length >= state.highWaterMark;