diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/gc/shenandoah/shenandoahHeapRegion.cpp b/src/hotspot/share/gc/shenandoah/shenandoahHeapRegion.cpp
index 990caa17315..9cb9fb65af6 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/gc/shenandoah/shenandoahHeapRegion.cpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/gc/shenandoah/shenandoahHeapRegion.cpp
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ ShenandoahHeapRegion* ShenandoahHeapRegion::humongous_start_region() const {
 void ShenandoahHeapRegion::recycle_internal() {
   assert(_recycling.is_set() && is_trash(), "Wrong state");
   assert(!is_active_alloc_region(), "Must not be active alloc region");
-  assert(volatile_top() == end(), "Must be");
+  assert(volatile_top() == nullptr, "Must be");
   ShenandoahHeap* heap = ShenandoahHeap::heap();
 
   set_top(bottom());