diff --git a/service/storage_service.cc b/service/storage_service.cc
index d2f8ea8b3a..7a99089e86 100644
--- a/service/storage_service.cc
+++ b/service/storage_service.cc
@@ -1781,10 +1781,6 @@ future<> storage_service::stop_gossiping() {
 }
 
 future<> storage_service::do_stop_ms() {
-    if (_ms_stopped) {
-        return make_ready_future<>();
-    }
-    _ms_stopped = true;
     return _messaging.invoke_on_all([] (auto& ms) {
         return ms.shutdown();
     }).then([] {
diff --git a/service/storage_service.hh b/service/storage_service.hh
index 14a3a22b76..2bef9801fc 100644
--- a/service/storage_service.hh
+++ b/service/storage_service.hh
@@ -152,7 +152,6 @@ private:
     sharded<repair_service>& _repair;
     sharded<streaming::stream_manager>& _stream_manager;
     sstring _operation_in_progress;
-    bool _ms_stopped = false;
     seastar::metrics::metric_groups _metrics;
     using client_shutdown_hook = noncopyable_function<void()>;
     std::vector<protocol_server*> _protocol_servers;