diff --git a/block/qcow2-bitmap.c b/block/qcow2-bitmap.c
index 60d5290f10..69485aa1de 100644
--- a/block/qcow2-bitmap.c
+++ b/block/qcow2-bitmap.c
@@ -254,7 +254,6 @@ static int free_bitmap_clusters(BlockDriverState *bs, Qcow2BitmapTable *tb)
 
     ret = bitmap_table_load(bs, tb, &bitmap_table);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        assert(bitmap_table == NULL);
         return ret;
     }