diff --git a/src/ert/config/observations.py b/src/ert/config/observations.py
index 5af2b7fc78b..d1e8580c982 100644
--- a/src/ert/config/observations.py
+++ b/src/ert/config/observations.py
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ def _handle_general_observation(
 
         gen_data_config = ensemble_config.response_configs.get("gen_data", None)
         assert isinstance(gen_data_config, GenDataConfig)
-        if not gen_data_config or response_key not in gen_data_config.keys:
+        if response_key not in gen_data_config.keys:
             ConfigWarning.warn(
                 f"Observation {obs_key} on GEN_DATA key {response_key}, but GEN_DATA"
                 f" key {response_key} is non-existing"