diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -5795,17 +5795,9 @@
             pool.PrioritiseTransaction(i.first, i.second);
         }
 
-        // TODO: remove this try...catch after May 15th 2021,
-        // when no one is running v0.22.11 or lower anymore.
-        // This will be done by backporting PR20854.
         std::set<TxId> unbroadcast_txids;
-        try {
-            file >> unbroadcast_txids;
-            unbroadcast = unbroadcast_txids.size();
-        } catch (const std::exception &) {
-            // mempool.dat files created prior to v0.22.12 will not have an
-            // unbroadcast set. No need to log a failure if parsing fails here.
-        }
+        file >> unbroadcast_txids;
+        unbroadcast = unbroadcast_txids.size();
         for (const auto &txid : unbroadcast_txids) {
             // Ensure transactions were accepted to mempool then add to
             // unbroadcast set.