diff --git a/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/Shard.cpp b/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/Shard.cpp
index 8d0eab811..ac4af4782 100644
--- a/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/Shard.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple/nodestore/impl/Shard.cpp
@@ -710,10 +710,7 @@ Shard::finalize(bool writeSQLite, std::optional<uint256> const& referenceHash)
         if (writeSQLite && !storeSQLite(ledger))
             return fail("failed storing to SQLite databases");
 
-        assert(
-            ledger->info().seq == ledgerSeq &&
-            (ledger->info().seq < XRP_LEDGER_EARLIEST_FEES ||
-             ledger->read(keylet::fees())));
+        assert(ledger->info().seq == ledgerSeq && ledger->read(keylet::fees()));
 
         hash = ledger->info().parentHash;
         next = std::move(ledger);