diff --git a/src/mem/cache/cache_blk.hh b/src/mem/cache/cache_blk.hh
index 9ace496cec..611ce448df 100644
--- a/src/mem/cache/cache_blk.hh
+++ b/src/mem/cache/cache_blk.hh
@@ -284,7 +284,6 @@ class CacheBlk : public ReplaceableEntry
      */
     void setWhenReady(const Tick tick)
     {
-        assert((whenReady == MaxTick) || (tick >= whenReady));
         assert(tick >= tickInserted);
         whenReady = tick;
     }