diff --git a/lib/_http_outgoing.js b/lib/_http_outgoing.js
index 8214826db8..c5c294a1b3 100644
--- a/lib/_http_outgoing.js
+++ b/lib/_http_outgoing.js
@@ -338,8 +338,6 @@ OutgoingMessage.prototype.setHeader = function(name, value) {
   if (!common._checkIsHttpToken(name))
     throw new TypeError(
       'Header name must be a valid HTTP Token ["' + name + '"]');
-  if (typeof name !== 'string')
-    throw new TypeError('"name" should be a string in setHeader(name, value)');
   if (value === undefined)
     throw new Error('"value" required in setHeader("' + name + '", value)');
   if (this._header)