diff --git a/pkg/controller/service/service_controller.go b/pkg/controller/service/service_controller.go
index 30562f59822..249d21af979 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/service/service_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/service/service_controller.go
@@ -547,33 +547,18 @@ func (s *ServiceController) needsUpdate(oldService *v1.Service, newService *v1.S
 	return false
 }
 
-func getPortsForLB(service *v1.Service) ([]*v1.ServicePort, error) {
-	var protocol v1.Protocol
-
+func getPortsForLB(service *v1.Service) []*v1.ServicePort {
 	ports := []*v1.ServicePort{}
 	for i := range service.Spec.Ports {
 		sp := &service.Spec.Ports[i]
-		// The check on protocol was removed here.  The cloud provider itself is now responsible for all protocol validation
 		ports = append(ports, sp)
-		if protocol == "" {
-			protocol = sp.Protocol
-		} else if protocol != sp.Protocol && wantsLoadBalancer(service) {
-			// TODO:  Convert error messages to use event recorder
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("mixed protocol external load balancers are not supported")
-		}
 	}
-	return ports, nil
+	return ports
 }
 
 func portsEqualForLB(x, y *v1.Service) bool {
-	xPorts, err := getPortsForLB(x)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	yPorts, err := getPortsForLB(y)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
+	xPorts := getPortsForLB(x)
+	yPorts := getPortsForLB(y)
 	return portSlicesEqualForLB(xPorts, yPorts)
 }