diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/variables/collection/item.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/variables/collection/item.rb
index 833aa75adb5..aab10aef398 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/variables/collection/item.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/variables/collection/item.rb
@@ -27,13 +27,9 @@ module Gitlab
           # don't expose `file` attribute at all (stems from what the runner
           # expects).
           #
-          # If the `variable_masking` feature is enabled we expose the `masked`
-          # attribute, otherwise it's not exposed.
-          #
           def to_runner_variable
             @variable.reject do |hash_key, hash_value|
-              (hash_key == :file && hash_value == false) ||
-                (hash_key == :masked && !Feature.enabled?(:variable_masking))
+              hash_key == :file && hash_value == false
             end
           end
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/variables/collection/item_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/variables/collection/item_spec.rb
index 3ff2fe18c15..613814df23f 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/variables/collection/item_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/variables/collection/item_spec.rb
@@ -137,19 +137,5 @@ describe Gitlab::Ci::Variables::Collection::Item do
           .to eq(key: 'VAR', value: 'value', public: true, file: true, masked: false)
       end
     end
-
-    context 'when variable masking is disabled' do
-      before do
-        stub_feature_flags(variable_masking: false)
-      end
-
-      it 'does not expose the masked field to the runner' do
-        runner_variable = described_class
-          .new(key: 'VAR', value: 'value', masked: true)
-          .to_runner_variable
-
-        expect(runner_variable).to eq(key: 'VAR', value: 'value', public: true)
-      end
-    end
   end
 end