diff --git a/src/runtime/trace.go b/src/runtime/trace.go
index 7d47ae02a9..871871c279 100644
--- a/src/runtime/trace.go
+++ b/src/runtime/trace.go
@@ -956,7 +956,7 @@ func traceReader() *g {
 // scheduled and should be. Callers should first check that
 // (traceEnabled() || traceShuttingDown()) is true.
 func traceReaderAvailable() *g {
-	// There are three conditions under which we definitely want to schedule
+	// There are two conditions under which we definitely want to schedule
 	// the reader:
 	// - The reader is lagging behind in finishing off the last generation.
 	//   In this case, trace buffers could even be empty, but the trace
@@ -965,12 +965,10 @@ func traceReaderAvailable() *g {
 	// - The reader has pending work to process for it's reader generation
 	//   (assuming readerGen is not lagging behind). Note that we also want
 	//   to be careful *not* to schedule the reader if there's no work to do.
-	// - The trace is shutting down. The trace stopper blocks on the reader
-	//   to finish, much like trace advancement.
 	//
 	// We also want to be careful not to schedule the reader if there's no
 	// reason to.
-	if trace.flushedGen.Load() == trace.readerGen.Load() || trace.workAvailable.Load() || trace.shutdown.Load() {
+	if trace.flushedGen.Load() == trace.readerGen.Load() || trace.workAvailable.Load() {
 		return trace.reader.Load()
 	}
 	return nil