diff --git a/packages/core/utils/lib/convert-query-params.js b/packages/core/utils/lib/convert-query-params.js
index 16417a6a6a..710baf18b7 100644
--- a/packages/core/utils/lib/convert-query-params.js
+++ b/packages/core/utils/lib/convert-query-params.js
@@ -234,10 +234,6 @@ const convertPopulateObject = (populate, schema) => {
 };
 
 const convertNestedPopulate = (subPopulate, schema) => {
-  if (subPopulate === '*') {
-    return true;
-  }
-
   if (_.isString(subPopulate)) {
     return parseType({ type: 'boolean', value: subPopulate, forceCast: true });
   }