diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
index 327f3b581..9324542ad 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class RansomwarePayload:
 
         LOG.info("Running ransomware payload")
 
-        if self._encryption_enabled and self._target_dir:
+        if self._encryption_enabled:
             file_list = self._find_files()
             self._encrypt_files(file_list)