diff --git a/sys/net/ipfw3/ip_fw3.c b/sys/net/ipfw3/ip_fw3.c
--- a/sys/net/ipfw3/ip_fw3.c
+++ b/sys/net/ipfw3/ip_fw3.c
@@ -936,7 +936,6 @@
 				   : "ipfw: Entry %d cleared.\n";
 	}
 	netisr_domsg(nmsg, 0);
-	KKASSERT(zmsg.start_rule == NULL);
 
 	if (sysctl_var_fw3_verbose)
 		log(LOG_SECURITY | LOG_NOTICE, msg, rulenum);