diff --git a/gtk/gtkbutton.c b/gtk/gtkbutton.c
index cc159c45a6..564483bae2 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkbutton.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkbutton.c
@@ -734,15 +734,12 @@ gtk_button_set_action_name (GtkActionable *actionable,
   g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_BUTTON (button));
   g_return_if_fail (button->priv->action == NULL);
 
-  if (g_strcmp0 (action_name, button->priv->action_name) != 0)
-    {
-      g_free (button->priv->action_name);
-      button->priv->action_name = g_strdup (action_name);
+  g_free (button->priv->action_name);
+  button->priv->action_name = g_strdup (action_name);
 
-      gtk_button_update_action_observer (button);
+  gtk_button_update_action_observer (button);
 
-      g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (button), "action-name");
-    }
+  g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (button), "action-name");
 }
 
 static void