diff --git a/apps/storeutl.c b/apps/storeutl.c
index 1368caae92..30c9915de3 100644
--- a/apps/storeutl.c
+++ b/apps/storeutl.c
@@ -163,8 +163,7 @@ int storeutl_main(int argc, char *argv[])
             break;
         case OPT_CRITERION_ISSUER:
             if (criterion != 0
-                || (criterion == OSSL_STORE_SEARCH_BY_ISSUER_SERIAL
-                    && issuer != NULL)) {
+                && criterion != OSSL_STORE_SEARCH_BY_ISSUER_SERIAL) {
                 BIO_printf(bio_err, "%s: criterion already given.\n",
                            prog);
                 goto end;
@@ -181,8 +180,7 @@ int storeutl_main(int argc, char *argv[])
             break;
         case OPT_CRITERION_SERIAL:
             if (criterion != 0
-                || (criterion == OSSL_STORE_SEARCH_BY_ISSUER_SERIAL
-                    && serial != NULL)) {
+                && criterion != OSSL_STORE_SEARCH_BY_ISSUER_SERIAL) {
                 BIO_printf(bio_err, "%s: criterion already given.\n",
                            prog);
                 goto end;