diff --git a/block/copy-before-write.c b/block/copy-before-write.c
index e835987e52f2..81afeff1c727 100644
--- a/block/copy-before-write.c
+++ b/block/copy-before-write.c
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ typedef struct BDRVCopyBeforeWriteState {
 
     /*
      * @frozen_read_reqs: current read requests for fleecing user in bs->file
-     * node. These areas must not be rewritten by guest.
+     * node. These areas must not be rewritten by guest. There can be multiple
+     * overlapping read requests.
      */
     BlockReqList frozen_read_reqs;
 
diff --git a/block/reqlist.c b/block/reqlist.c
index 08cb57cfa45b..098e807378ba 100644
--- a/block/reqlist.c
+++ b/block/reqlist.c
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@
 void reqlist_init_req(BlockReqList *reqs, BlockReq *req, int64_t offset,
                       int64_t bytes)
 {
-    assert(!reqlist_find_conflict(reqs, offset, bytes));
-
     *req = (BlockReq) {
         .offset = offset,
         .bytes = bytes,