diff --git a/src/initctl/initctl.c b/src/initctl/initctl.c
index 7505512fe7..7b93de0d8a 100644
--- a/src/initctl/initctl.c
+++ b/src/initctl/initctl.c
@@ -341,11 +341,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         Server server;
         int r = EXIT_FAILURE, n;
 
-        if (getppid() != 1) {
-                log_error("This program should be invoked by init only.");
-                return EXIT_FAILURE;
-        }
-
         if (argc > 1) {
                 log_error("This program does not take arguments.");
                 return EXIT_FAILURE;
diff --git a/src/update-utmp/update-utmp.c b/src/update-utmp/update-utmp.c
index fd24cdc789..28f1aadabc 100644
--- a/src/update-utmp/update-utmp.c
+++ b/src/update-utmp/update-utmp.c
@@ -223,9 +223,6 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         };
         int r;
 
-        if (getppid() != 1)
-                return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL),
-                                       "This program should be invoked by init only.");
         if (argc != 2)
                 return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL),
                                        "This program requires one argument.");