diff --git a/appview/knots/knots.go b/appview/knots/knots.go
index 8ee33389..ef702bb8 100644
--- a/appview/knots/knots.go
+++ b/appview/knots/knots.go
@@ -666,11 +666,6 @@ func (k *Knots) removeMember(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		k.Pages.Notice(w, noticeId, "Failed to remove member, identity resolution failed.")
 		return
 	}
-	if memberId.Handle.IsInvalidHandle() {
-		l.Error("failed to resolve member identity to handle")
-		k.Pages.Notice(w, noticeId, "Failed to remove member, identity resolution failed.")
-		return
-	}
 
 	// remove from enforcer
 	err = k.Enforcer.RemoveKnotMember(domain, memberId.DID.String())
diff --git a/appview/spindles/spindles.go b/appview/spindles/spindles.go
index 0a89d729..52bbd9a1 100644
--- a/appview/spindles/spindles.go
+++ b/appview/spindles/spindles.go
@@ -653,11 +653,6 @@ func (s *Spindles) removeMember(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		s.Pages.Notice(w, noticeId, "Failed to remove member, identity resolution failed.")
 		return
 	}
-	if memberId.Handle.IsInvalidHandle() {
-		l.Error("failed to resolve member identity to handle")
-		s.Pages.Notice(w, noticeId, "Failed to remove member, identity resolution failed.")
-		return
-	}
 
 	tx, err := s.Db.Begin()
 	if err != nil {