diff --git a/fail2ban/server/jails.py b/fail2ban/server/jails.py
index 27e12ddf65..eaaa95183a 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/jails.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/jails.py
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@ def add(self, name, backend, db=None):
 		"""
 		with self.__lock:
 			if name in self._jails:
-				if noduplicates:
-					raise DuplicateJailException(name)
+				raise DuplicateJailException(name)
 			else:
 				self._jails[name] = Jail(name, backend, db)