diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerConnector.java b/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerConnector.java
index b65931e0a4b19..7cfb4f434b90d 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerConnector.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/runtime/WorkerConnector.java
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ void doRun() {
                 if (pendingTargetStateChange.get() != null || stopping) {
                     // An update occurred before we entered the synchronized block; no big deal,
                     // just start the loop again until we've handled everything
-                    continue;
                 } else {
                     try {
                         wait();