diff --git a/jetty-security/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/security/SecurityHandler.java b/jetty-security/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/security/SecurityHandler.java
index 6fb32155cb6d..c235eabbaf7f 100644
--- a/jetty-security/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/security/SecurityHandler.java
+++ b/jetty-security/src/main/java/org/eclipse/jetty/security/SecurityHandler.java
@@ -334,11 +334,8 @@ protected void doStart()
 
             if (_identityService == null)
             {
-                if (_realmName != null)
-                {
-                    setIdentityService(new DefaultIdentityService());
-                    manage(_identityService);
-                }
+                setIdentityService(new DefaultIdentityService());
+                manage(_identityService);
             }
             else
                 unmanage(_identityService);