diff --git a/avocado/utils/softwareraid.py b/avocado/utils/softwareraid.py
index 3344cad598..91d4a205c9 100644
--- a/avocado/utils/softwareraid.py
+++ b/avocado/utils/softwareraid.py
@@ -48,10 +48,7 @@ def __init__(self, name, level, disks, metadata, spare_disks=None):
         self.metadata = metadata
         self.disks = disks
         self.remadd = ""
-        if not spare_disks:
-            self.spare_disks = []
-        else:
-            self.spare_disks = spare_disks
+        self.spare_disks = spare_disks or []
 
     def _run_command(self, cmd, log_details=True, check_recovery=False):
         if process.system(cmd, ignore_status=True, shell=True) != 0: