diff --git a/config/src/main/java/com/typesafe/config/impl/ConfigBeanImpl.java b/config/src/main/java/com/typesafe/config/impl/ConfigBeanImpl.java
index c094081d..e794132e 100644
--- a/config/src/main/java/com/typesafe/config/impl/ConfigBeanImpl.java
+++ b/config/src/main/java/com/typesafe/config/impl/ConfigBeanImpl.java
@@ -269,9 +269,6 @@ public class ConfigBeanImpl {
 
     private static boolean isOptionalProperty(Class beanClass, PropertyDescriptor beanProp) {
         Field field = getField(beanClass, beanProp.getName());
-        if (field == null) {
-            throw new ConfigException.BadBean("Bean property '" + beanProp + "' of class " + beanClass.getName() + " does not exist");
-        }
         return (field.getAnnotationsByType(Optional.class).length > 0);
     }