diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_engine/state/labware.py b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_engine/state/labware.py
index ae1bb2fa8c0..29029ad0841 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_engine/state/labware.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_engine/state/labware.py
@@ -265,10 +265,7 @@ def _set_labware_location(self, action: Action) -> None:
             if new_offset_id != update_types.NO_CHANGE:
                 self._state.labware_by_id[labware_id].offsetId = new_offset_id
 
-            if (
-                action.state_update.labware_location.new_location
-                != update_types.NO_CHANGE
-            ):
+            if action.state_update.labware_location.new_location:
                 new_location = action.state_update.labware_location.new_location
 
                 if isinstance(
@@ -279,8 +276,6 @@ def _set_labware_location(self, action: Action) -> None:
                     # If a labware has been moved into a waste chute it's been chuted away and is now technically off deck
                     new_location = OFF_DECK_LOCATION
 
-                assert new_location != update_types.NO_CHANGE
-
                 self._state.labware_by_id[labware_id].location = new_location
 
 
diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_engine/state/update_types.py b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_engine/state/update_types.py
index 4645fe7e461..e319149f015 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_engine/state/update_types.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_engine/state/update_types.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class LabwareLocationUpdate:
 
     labware_id: str
 
-    new_location: LabwareLocation | None | NoChangeType
+    new_location: LabwareLocation | None
     """The labware's new logical location.
 
     Note: `new_location=None` means "change the location to `None` (unknown)",
@@ -168,23 +168,14 @@ def set_labware_location(  # noqa: D102
         self,
         *,
         labware_id: str,
-        new_location: LabwareLocation | None | NoChangeType = NO_CHANGE,
-        new_offset_id: str | None | NoChangeType = NO_CHANGE,
+        new_location: LabwareLocation,
+        new_offset_id: str | None,
     ) -> None:
-        if new_location != NO_CHANGE:
-            self.labware_location = LabwareLocationUpdate(
-                labware_id=labware_id,
-                new_location=new_location,
-                offset_id=new_offset_id,
-            )
-        else:
-            assert new_offset_id != NO_CHANGE
-
-            self.labware_location = LabwareLocationUpdate(
-                labware_id=labware_id,
-                offset_id=new_offset_id,
-                new_location=_NoChangeEnum.NO_CHANGE,
-            )
+        self.labware_location = LabwareLocationUpdate(
+            labware_id=labware_id,
+            new_location=new_location,
+            offset_id=new_offset_id,
+        )
 
     def set_loaded_labware(
         self,