diff --git a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone.rs b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone.rs
index f34bb0bd..771df420 100644
--- a/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone.rs
+++ b/crates/radicle-cli/src/commands/clone.rs
@@ -246,10 +246,8 @@ impl Checkout {
             .map_err(|err| CheckoutFailure::Payload { rid, err })?;
         let path = directory.unwrap_or_else(|| PathBuf::from(proj.name()));
         // N.b. fail if the path exists and is not empty
-        if path.exists() {
-            if path.read_dir().map_or(true, |mut dir| dir.next().is_some()) {
-                return Err(CheckoutFailure::Exists { rid, path });
-            }
+        if path.exists() && path.read_dir().map_or(true, |mut dir| dir.next().is_some()) {
+            return Err(CheckoutFailure::Exists { rid, path });
         }
 
         Ok(Self {