diff --git a/lib/dns/tcpmsg.c b/lib/dns/tcpmsg.c
index f6cee6ff3d..fb498bb8df 100644
--- a/lib/dns/tcpmsg.c
+++ b/lib/dns/tcpmsg.c
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ dns_tcpmsg_init(isc_mem_t *mctx, isc_socket_t *sock, dns_tcpmsg_t *tcpmsg)
 	REQUIRE(mctx != NULL);
 	REQUIRE(sock != NULL);
 	REQUIRE(tcpmsg != NULL);
-	REQUIRE(!VALID_TCPMSG(tcpmsg));
 
 	tcpmsg->magic = TCPMSG_MAGIC;
 	tcpmsg->size = 0;