diff --git a/clang/lib/Serialization/ASTReader.cpp b/clang/lib/Serialization/ASTReader.cpp
index 8a04e70f7debf..7f7ada57ef3ae 100644
--- a/clang/lib/Serialization/ASTReader.cpp
+++ b/clang/lib/Serialization/ASTReader.cpp
@@ -8035,8 +8035,6 @@ Stmt *ASTReader::GetExternalDeclStmt(uint64_t Offset) {
     Error(std::move(Err));
     return nullptr;
   }
-  assert(NumCurrentElementsDeserializing == 0 &&
-         "should not be called while already deserializing");
   Deserializing D(this);
   return ReadStmtFromStream(*Loc.F);
 }