--- old/src/hotspot/share/gc/shared/collectedHeap.hpp	2018-02-16 14:08:21.753402222 +0100
+++ new/src/hotspot/share/gc/shared/collectedHeap.hpp	2018-02-16 14:08:21.600395640 +0100
@@ -622,16 +622,12 @@
   GCCause::Cause _previous_cause;
  public:
   GCCauseSetter(CollectedHeap* heap, GCCause::Cause cause) {
-    assert(SafepointSynchronize::is_at_safepoint(),
-           "This method manipulates heap state without locking");
     _heap = heap;
     _previous_cause = _heap->gc_cause();
     _heap->set_gc_cause(cause);
   }
 
   ~GCCauseSetter() {
-    assert(SafepointSynchronize::is_at_safepoint(),
-          "This method manipulates heap state without locking");
     _heap->set_gc_cause(_previous_cause);
   }
 };