diff --git a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java
index 0c2c59a14..3f913120e 100644
--- a/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java
+++ b/smack-core/src/main/java/org/jivesoftware/smack/AbstractXMPPConnection.java
@@ -521,9 +521,6 @@ public abstract class AbstractXMPPConnection implements XMPPConnection {
         closingStreamReceived = false;
         streamId = null;
 
-        // The connection should not be connected nor marked as such prior calling connectInternal().
-        assert !connected;
-
         try {
             // Perform the actual connection to the XMPP service
             connectInternal();