diff --git a/src/osd/OpRequest.h b/src/osd/OpRequest.h
index 432bddb16725f..e12fbe00c53dd 100644
--- a/src/osd/OpRequest.h
+++ b/src/osd/OpRequest.h
@@ -89,7 +89,6 @@ struct OpRequest : public TrackedOp {
   int rmw_flags;
 
   bool check_rmw(int flag) {
-    assert(rmw_flags);
     return rmw_flags & flag;
   }
   bool may_read() { return need_read_cap() || need_class_read_cap(); }