diff --git a/servers/slapd/schema_init.c b/servers/slapd/schema_init.c
index 85992cfd0a..0a04ec6d0b 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/schema_init.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/schema_init.c
@@ -1138,7 +1138,6 @@ retry:
 			}
 
 			idx = p - left.bv_val;
-			assert( idx < left.bv_len );
 
 			if( idx >= left.bv_len ) {
 				/* this shouldn't happen */
@@ -2169,7 +2168,6 @@ retry:
 			}
 
 			idx = p - left.bv_val;
-			assert( idx < left.bv_len );
 
 			if( idx >= left.bv_len ) {
 				/* this shouldn't happen */
@@ -2734,8 +2732,6 @@ retry:
 			}
 
 			idx = p - left.bv_val;
-			assert( idx < left.bv_len );
-
 			if( idx >= left.bv_len ) {
 				/* this shouldn't happen */
 				return LDAP_OTHER;