diff --git a/src/libxrpl/tx/transactors/payment_channel/PaymentChannelCreate.cpp b/src/libxrpl/tx/transactors/payment_channel/PaymentChannelCreate.cpp
index e7c87a1af1..2199fce70c 100644
--- a/src/libxrpl/tx/transactors/payment_channel/PaymentChannelCreate.cpp
+++ b/src/libxrpl/tx/transactors/payment_channel/PaymentChannelCreate.cpp
@@ -140,11 +140,8 @@ PaymentChannelCreate::doApply()
 
     if (ctx_.view().rules().enabled(featureSponsor))
     {
-        auto const sponsorSle = getTxReserveSponsor(ctx_.view(), ctx_.tx);
-        if (!sponsorSle)
-            return sponsorSle.error();  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
         if (auto const ret = checkInsufficientReserve(
-                ctx_.view(), ctx_.tx, sle, STAmount{preFeeBalance_}, *sponsorSle, 1, 0, j_);
+                ctx_.view(), ctx_.tx, sle, STAmount{preFeeBalance_}, {}, 1, 0, j_);
             !isTesSuccess(ret))
             return ret;
         if (auto const ret = checkInsufficientReserve(
@@ -152,7 +149,7 @@ PaymentChannelCreate::doApply()
                 ctx_.tx,
                 sle,
                 STAmount{preFeeBalance_ - ctx_.tx[sfAmount].xrp()},
-                *sponsorSle,
+                {},
                 1,
                 0,
                 j_);