diff --git a/gunicorn/util.py b/gunicorn/util.py
index ecd81747..e66dbebf 100644
--- a/gunicorn/util.py
+++ b/gunicorn/util.py
@@ -147,10 +147,6 @@ def set_owner_process(uid, gid, initgroups=False):
             except KeyError:
                 initgroups = False
 
-        # versions of python < 2.6.2 don't manage unsigned int for
-        # groups like on osx or fedora
-        gid = abs(gid) & 0x7FFFFFFF
-
         if initgroups:
             os.initgroups(username, gid)
         elif gid != os.getgid():