Do I have to check for null value before assigning a variable in Awake()?

Questions & Answers
1

I have a code written as the following

void Awake()
{
    if(this.robot == null)
       this.robot = GameObject.FindObjectOfType<Robot>()as Robot;
    else {
       this.robot = null;
       this.robot = GameObject.FindObjectOfType<Robot>()as Robot;
    }
}

Since this is happening in Awake(), is null checking necessary? Can’t it be written as the following?

void Awake()
{
       this.robot = GameObject.FindObjectOfType<Robot>()as Robot;
}

EDIT:

I am not accessing robot’s properties or methods in the Awake().

2

Null checking is not necessary, because you do not read value of “robot” at all.