diff --git a/lib/apcupsd.go b/lib/apcupsd.go
index 1a863a7..42be622 100644
--- a/lib/apcupsd.go
+++ b/lib/apcupsd.go
@@ -61,9 +61,6 @@ func (u APCUPSPlugin) FetchMetrics() (map[string]float64, error) {
 
 // failsafe
 func (u APCUPSPlugin) MetricKeyPrefix() string {
-	if u.prefix == "" {
-		u.prefix = "ups"
-	}
 	return u.prefix
 }