diff --git a/pkg/kubeapiserver/authenticator/config.go b/pkg/kubeapiserver/authenticator/config.go
index 60d163bd9a1..e86228b7a43 100644
--- a/pkg/kubeapiserver/authenticator/config.go
+++ b/pkg/kubeapiserver/authenticator/config.go
@@ -196,9 +196,6 @@ func (config AuthenticatorConfig) New() (authenticator.Request, *spec.SecurityDe
 		if config.Anonymous {
 			return anonymous.NewAuthenticator(), &securityDefinitions, nil
 		}
-	}
-
-	if len(authenticators) == 0 {
 		return nil, &securityDefinitions, nil
 	}