diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index af13d809e..a7a9a825b 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -3679,8 +3679,8 @@ static bool ContextualCheckBlock(const CBlock& block, CValidationState& state, c
     // Start enforcing BIP113 (Median Time Past).
     int nLockTimeFlags = 0;
     if (nHeight >= consensusParams.CSVHeight) {
-        assert(pindexPrev != nullptr);
-        nLockTimeFlags |= LOCKTIME_MEDIAN_TIME_PAST;
+        if (pindexPrev != nullptr)
+            nLockTimeFlags |= LOCKTIME_MEDIAN_TIME_PAST;
     }
 
     int64_t nLockTimeCutoff = (nLockTimeFlags & LOCKTIME_MEDIAN_TIME_PAST)