system_modules_confirm_form, line 1079, if ($form) is always true

On line 1079 of the system module's system.admin.inc states the following

if ($form) {
    // Set some default form values
    $form = confirm_form(
      $form,
      t('Some required modules must be enabled'),
      'admin/modules',
      t('Would you like to continue with the above?'),
      t('Continue'),
      t('Cancel'));
    return $form;
  }

but earlier in the function the $form array is initialized and given some properties. Therefore $form will always exist and the if statement is unnecessary.