diff --git a/packages/babel-traverse/src/path/lib/removal-hooks.ts b/packages/babel-traverse/src/path/lib/removal-hooks.ts
index 7872299b4f0c..105fb9cfea2f 100644
--- a/packages/babel-traverse/src/path/lib/removal-hooks.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-traverse/src/path/lib/removal-hooks.ts
@@ -62,8 +62,7 @@ export const hooks = [
 
   function (self: NodePath, parent: NodePath) {
     if (
-      (parent.isIfStatement() &&
-        (self.key === "consequent" || self.key === "alternate")) ||
+      (parent.isIfStatement() && self.key === "consequent") ||
       (self.key === "body" &&
         (parent.isLoop() || parent.isArrowFunctionExpression()))
     ) {
diff --git a/packages/babel-traverse/test/removal.js b/packages/babel-traverse/test/removal.js
index 210304c736e9..e1b313e452c1 100644
--- a/packages/babel-traverse/test/removal.js
+++ b/packages/babel-traverse/test/removal.js
@@ -45,4 +45,22 @@ describe("removal", function () {
 
     expect(generate(ast).code).toBe("");
   });
+
+  describe("within an IfStatement", function () {
+    it("does not make consequent null", function () {
+      const rootPath = getPath("if (x) foo(); else bar();");
+      const ifPath = rootPath.get("body.0");
+      ifPath.get("consequent").remove();
+
+      expect(ifPath.get("consequent").type).toBe("BlockStatement");
+    });
+
+    it("completely removes alternate", function () {
+      const rootPath = getPath("if (x) foo(); else bar();");
+      const ifPath = rootPath.get("body.0");
+      ifPath.get("alternate").remove();
+
+      expect(ifPath.get("alternate").node).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
 });