diff --git a/pkg/proxy/topology.go b/pkg/proxy/topology.go
index 9c7c7e9a258..48b2e541136 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/topology.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/topology.go
@@ -162,12 +162,6 @@ func CategorizeEndpoints(endpoints []Endpoint, svcInfo ServicePort, nodeName str
 //     hinted for this node's zone, then it returns "PreferSameZone".
 //   - Otherwise it returns "" (meaning, no topology / default traffic distribution).
 func topologyModeFromHints(svcInfo ServicePort, endpoints []Endpoint, nodeName, zone string) string {
-	if len(endpoints) == 0 {
-		// The code below assumes at least 1 endpoint; if there are no endpoints,
-		// there are no hints.
-		return ""
-	}
-
 	hasReadyEndpoints := false
 	hasEndpointForNode := false
 	allEndpointsHaveNodeHints := true