diff --git a/paper-server/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaSpawnEgg.java b/paper-server/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaSpawnEgg.java
index c5e879d538..a8ca531c2f 100644
--- a/paper-server/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaSpawnEgg.java
+++ b/paper-server/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaSpawnEgg.java
@@ -151,10 +151,6 @@ public class CraftMetaSpawnEgg extends CraftMetaItem implements SpawnEggMeta {
     void applyToItem(CraftMetaItem.Applicator tag) {
         super.applyToItem(tag);
 
-        if (!isSpawnEggEmpty() && entityTag == null) {
-            entityTag = new NBTTagCompound();
-        }
-
         if (entityTag != null) {
             tag.put(ENTITY_TAG, CustomData.of(entityTag));
         }