* PREV_PACKET is a branch.
         */
        if (etm->synth_opts.last_branch &&
-           etmq->prev_packet &&
            etmq->prev_packet->sample_type == CS_ETM_RANGE &&
            etmq->prev_packet->last_instr_taken_branch)
                cs_etm__update_last_branch_rb(etmq);
                etmq->period_instructions = instrs_over;
        }
 
-       if (etm->sample_branches && etmq->prev_packet) {
+       if (etm->sample_branches) {
                bool generate_sample = false;
 
                /* Generate sample for tracing on packet */
        struct cs_etm_auxtrace *etm = etmq->etm;
        struct cs_etm_packet *tmp;
 
-       if (!etmq->prev_packet)
-               return 0;
-
        /* Handle start tracing packet */
        if (etmq->prev_packet->sample_type == CS_ETM_EMPTY)
                goto swap_packet;