diff --git a/lib/client/api.go b/lib/client/api.go
index 4337bcd241632..81a482072617c 100644
--- a/lib/client/api.go
+++ b/lib/client/api.go
@@ -5313,9 +5313,6 @@ func parseMFAMode(in string) (wancli.AuthenticatorAttachment, error) {
 // NewKubernetesServiceClient connects to the proxy and returns an authenticated gRPC
 // client to the Kubernetes service.
 func (tc *TeleportClient) NewKubernetesServiceClient(ctx context.Context, clusterName string) (kubeproto.KubeServiceClient, error) {
-	if !tc.TLSRoutingEnabled {
-		return nil, trace.BadParameter("kube service is not supported if TLS routing is not enabled")
-	}
 	// get tlsConfig to dial to proxy.
 	tlsConfig, err := tc.LoadTLSConfig()
 	if err != nil {