diff --git a/server/modules/routing/readwritesplit/rwsplit_route_stmt.cc b/server/modules/routing/readwritesplit/rwsplit_route_stmt.cc
index 5093bb3ad..36170489f 100644
--- a/server/modules/routing/readwritesplit/rwsplit_route_stmt.cc
+++ b/server/modules/routing/readwritesplit/rwsplit_route_stmt.cc
@@ -870,7 +870,6 @@ RWBackend* RWSplitSession::handle_slave_is_target(uint8_t cmd, uint32_t stmt_id)
     {
         mxb::atomic::add(&m_router->stats().n_slave, 1, mxb::atomic::RELAXED);
         m_server_stats[target->server()].read++;
-        mxb_assert(target->in_use() || target->can_connect());
     }
     else
     {