diff --git a/src/java/voldemort/store/routed/NodeValue.java b/src/java/voldemort/store/routed/NodeValue.java
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/src/java/voldemort/store/routed/NodeValue.java
+++ b/src/java/voldemort/store/routed/NodeValue.java
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ import voldemort.versioning.Versioned;
 import com.google.common.base.Objects;
 
 /**
- * A wrapper around a node id, key and value
+ * A wrapper around a node id, key and value. This class represents one
+ * key/value as fetched from a single server.
  * 
  * @author jay
  * 
@@ -83,8 +84,6 @@ final class NodeValue<K, V> implements Serializable, Cloneable {
             return true;
         if(!(o instanceof NodeValue))
             return false;
-        if(o == null)
-            return false;
 
         NodeValue<?, ?> v = (NodeValue<?, ?>) o;
         return getNodeId() == v.getNodeId() && Objects.equal(getKey(), v.getKey())
Redundant null check (patch from ishmael). Add meaningful docs.