diff --git a/coregrind/m_oset.c b/coregrind/m_oset.c
index b170d02..a282bfb 100644
--- a/coregrind/m_oset.c
+++ b/coregrind/m_oset.c
@@ -601,8 +601,6 @@
    Int ch;
    AvlNode* n;
 
-   vg_assert(t && t->root);
-
    if (!t->root->left) {
       if (!t->root->right) {
          t->root = NULL;