As a natural generalization of line graphs, Hoffman line graphs were defined by Woo and Neumaier. Especially, Hoffman line graphs are closely related to the smallest eigenvalue of graphs, and the uniqueness of strict covers of a Hoffman line graph plays a key role in such a study. In this paper, we prove a theorem for the uniqueness of strict covers under a condition which can be checked in finite time. Our result gives a generalization and a short proof for the main part of [Ars Math.~Contemp. \textbf{1} (2008) 81--98].