diff --git a/daemon/graphdriver/graphtest/graphbench_unix.go b/daemon/graphdriver/graphtest/graphbench_unix.go
index 22de8d1781..44e36b1b12 100644
--- a/daemon/graphdriver/graphtest/graphbench_unix.go
+++ b/daemon/graphdriver/graphtest/graphbench_unix.go
@@ -172,6 +172,10 @@ func DriverBenchDiffApplyN(b *testing.B, fileCount int, drivername string, drive
 		b.StopTimer()
 		arch.Close()
 
+		// suppressing "SA9003: empty branch (staticcheck)" instead of commenting-out/removing
+		// these lines because removing/commenting these lines causes a ripple effect
+		// of changes, and there's still a to-do below
+		//nolint:staticcheck
 		if applyDiffSize != diffSize {
 			// TODO: enforce this
 			//b.Fatalf("Apply diff size different, got %d, expected %s", applyDiffSize, diffSize)