diff --git a/ChangeLog.txt b/ChangeLog.txt
index 0fc175bb94..cf1ac6d2a5 100644
--- a/ChangeLog.txt
+++ b/ChangeLog.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 Broker:
 - Fix usage message only mentioning v3.1.1. Closes #1713.
+- Fix broker refusing to start if only websockets listeners were defined.
+  Closes #1740.
 
 Client library:
 - Improved documentation around connect callback return codes. Close #1730.
diff --git a/src/mosquitto.c b/src/mosquitto.c
index 988612486d..fdde843b23 100644
--- a/src/mosquitto.c
+++ b/src/mosquitto.c
@@ -333,10 +333,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 #endif
 		}
 	}
-	if(listensock == NULL){
-		log__printf(NULL, MOSQ_LOG_ERR, "Error: Unable to start any listening sockets, exiting.");
-		return 1;
-	}
 
 	rc = drop_privileges(&config, false);
 	if(rc != MOSQ_ERR_SUCCESS) return rc;