diff --git a/servers/slapd/backend.c b/servers/slapd/backend.c
index b41cb74754..5e8c0726d3 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/backend.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/backend.c
@@ -568,14 +568,11 @@ select_backend(
 				} else {
 					be = &backends[i];
 				}
-
-				assert( !be->be_ssf_set.sss_tls );
 				return be;
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	assert( be == NULL || !be->be_ssf_set.sss_tls );
 	return be;
 }
 
@@ -842,7 +839,6 @@ backend_check_restrictions(
 		}
 
 		if( op->o_tls_ssf < ssf->sss_tls ) {
-			assert(0);
 			*text = "TLS confidentiality required";
 			return LDAP_CONFIDENTIALITY_REQUIRED;
 		}