diff --git a/src/samfmt.c b/src/samfmt.c
index 043ff7c..38bc217 100644
--- a/src/samfmt.c
+++ b/src/samfmt.c
@@ -413,16 +413,10 @@ short_read_t* quip_sam_read(quip_sam_in_t* in)
     else in->r.seqname.n = 0;
 
     if (in->f->header && in->b->core.mtid >= 0) {
-        if (in->b->core.mtid == in->b->core.tid) {
-            in->r.mate_seqname.n = 0;
-            str_append_cstr(&in->r.mate_seqname, "=");
-        }
-        else {
-            str_copy_cstr(
-                &in->r.mate_seqname,
-                in->f->header->target_name[in->b->core.mtid],
-                strlen(in->f->header->target_name[in->b->core.mtid]));
-        }
+        str_copy_cstr(
+            &in->r.mate_seqname,
+            in->f->header->target_name[in->b->core.mtid],
+            strlen(in->f->header->target_name[in->b->core.mtid]));
     }
     else in->r.mate_seqname.n = 0;