diff --git a/python/packages/autogen-agentchat/src/autogen_agentchat/teams/_group_chat/_base_group_chat.py b/python/packages/autogen-agentchat/src/autogen_agentchat/teams/_group_chat/_base_group_chat.py
index e075d0e87660..d27865e0a4ab 100644
--- a/python/packages/autogen-agentchat/src/autogen_agentchat/teams/_group_chat/_base_group_chat.py
+++ b/python/packages/autogen-agentchat/src/autogen_agentchat/teams/_group_chat/_base_group_chat.py
@@ -406,7 +406,6 @@ async def stop_runtime() -> None:
                 recipient=AgentId(type=self._group_chat_manager_topic_type, key=self._team_id),
                 cancellation_token=cancellation_token,
             )
-
             # Collect the output messages in order.
             output_messages: List[AgentEvent | ChatMessage] = []
             # Yield the messsages until the queue is empty.
@@ -426,8 +425,7 @@ async def stop_runtime() -> None:
 
         finally:
             # Wait for the shutdown task to finish.
-            if shutdown_task is not None:
-                await shutdown_task
+            await shutdown_task
 
             # Clear the output message queue.
             while not self._output_message_queue.empty():