diff --git a/plugins/out_loki/loki.c b/plugins/out_loki/loki.c
index 9722ebc3170..37595497cb5 100644
--- a/plugins/out_loki/loki.c
+++ b/plugins/out_loki/loki.c
@@ -916,13 +916,14 @@ static int prepare_remove_keys(struct flb_loki *ctx)
                 return -1;
             }
         }
-        size = mk_list_size(patterns);
+    }
+
+    size = mk_list_size(patterns);
+    if (size > 0) {
         flb_plg_debug(ctx->ins, "remove_mpa size: %d", size);
-        if (size > 0) {
-            ctx->remove_mpa = flb_mp_accessor_create(patterns);
-            if (ctx->remove_mpa == NULL) {
-                return -1;
-            }
+        ctx->remove_mpa = flb_mp_accessor_create(patterns);
+        if (ctx->remove_mpa == NULL) {
+            return -1;
         }
     }