diff --git a/server/src/com/cloud/network/IpAddressManagerImpl.java b/server/src/com/cloud/network/IpAddressManagerImpl.java
index 7ca06a2c655..f73a5491a82 100644
--- a/server/src/com/cloud/network/IpAddressManagerImpl.java
+++ b/server/src/com/cloud/network/IpAddressManagerImpl.java
@@ -580,7 +580,6 @@ public class IpAddressManagerImpl extends ManagerBase implements IpAddressManage
 
         IPAddressVO ip = markIpAsUnavailable(addrId);
 
-        assert (ip != null) : "Unable to mark the ip address id=" + addrId + " as unavailable.";
         if (ip == null) {
             return true;
         }