diff --git a/src/compiler/emitter.ts b/src/compiler/emitter.ts
index 70ab3606c6c..86ada2b25a7 100644
--- a/src/compiler/emitter.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/emitter.ts
@@ -2770,7 +2770,7 @@ var __awaiter = (this && this.__awaiter) || function (thisArg, _arguments, Promi
              *   we we emit variable statement 'var' should be dropped.
              */
             function isSourceFileLevelDeclarationInSystemJsModule(node: Node, isExported: boolean): boolean {
-                if (!node || languageVersion >= ScriptTarget.ES6 || !isCurrentFileSystemExternalModule()) {
+                if (!node || !isCurrentFileSystemExternalModule()) {
                     return false;
                 }