diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -5749,17 +5749,14 @@
 //! Guess how far we are in the verification process at the given block index
 //! require cs_main if pindex has not been validated yet (because nChainTx might
 //! be unset)
+//! This conditional lock requirement might be confusing, see:
+//! https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/issues/15994
 double GuessVerificationProgress(const ChainTxData &data,
                                  const CBlockIndex *pindex) {
     if (pindex == nullptr) {
         return 0.0;
     }
 
-    // This function assumes the lock on cs_main is already held (see the
-    // above comment). This is a temporary check until PR15997 is backported.
-    // https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/15997
-    AssertLockHeld(cs_main);
-
     int64_t nNow = time(nullptr);
 
     double fTxTotal;