diff --git a/scd/app.c b/scd/app.c
index a86b08cd2..fafd28cee 100644
--- a/scd/app.c
+++ b/scd/app.c
@@ -1614,7 +1614,7 @@ maybe_switch_app (ctrl_t ctrl, card_t card, const char *keyref)
   app_t app_prev = NULL;
   apptype_t apptype;
 
-  if (!card->ref_count || !card->app)
+  if (!card->app)
     return gpg_error (GPG_ERR_CARD_NOT_INITIALIZED);
   if (!ctrl->current_apptype)
     {