diff --git a/sys/dev/ae/if_ae.c b/sys/dev/ae/if_ae.c
--- a/sys/dev/ae/if_ae.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ae/if_ae.c
@@ -362,12 +362,6 @@
 	 */
 	sc->tq = taskqueue_create_fast("ae_taskq", M_WAITOK,
             taskqueue_thread_enqueue, &sc->tq);
-	if (sc->tq == NULL) {
-		device_printf(dev, "could not create taskqueue.\n");
-		ether_ifdetach(ifp);
-		error = ENXIO;
-		goto fail;
-	}
 	taskqueue_start_threads(&sc->tq, 1, PI_NET, "%s taskq",
 	    device_get_nameunit(sc->dev));