diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index 0bd1ec672..0da861eb2 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -2608,7 +2608,6 @@ static CBlockIndex* AddToBlockIndex(const CBlockHeader& block)
 
     // Construct new block index object
     CBlockIndex* pindexNew = new CBlockIndex(block);
-    assert(pindexNew);
     // We assign the sequence id to blocks only when the full data is available,
     // to avoid miners withholding blocks but broadcasting headers, to get a
     // competitive advantage.
@@ -3434,8 +3433,6 @@ CBlockIndex * InsertBlockIndex(uint256 hash)
 
     // Create new
     CBlockIndex* pindexNew = new CBlockIndex();
-    if (!pindexNew)
-        throw std::runtime_error(std::string(__func__) + ": new CBlockIndex failed");
     mi = mapBlockIndex.insert(std::make_pair(hash, pindexNew)).first;
     pindexNew->phashBlock = &((*mi).first);