diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/InferencePlugin.java b/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/InferencePlugin.java
index f98a7ebdee34..ac225800ad1b 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/InferencePlugin.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/inference/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/inference/InferencePlugin.java
@@ -201,8 +201,6 @@ public List<RestHandler> getRestHandlers(
         Supplier<DiscoveryNodes> nodesInCluster,
         Predicate<NodeFeature> clusterSupportsFeature
     ) {
-        assert serviceComponents.get() != null : "serviceComponents must be set before retrieving the rest handlers";
-
         var availableRestActions = List.of(
             new RestInferenceAction(),
             new RestStreamInferenceAction(threadPoolSetOnce),