diff --git a/rai/node/rpc.cpp b/rai/node/rpc.cpp
index e23ede55..6d0aaeaf 100644
--- a/rai/node/rpc.cpp
+++ b/rai/node/rpc.cpp
@@ -773,8 +773,7 @@ void rai::rpc_handler::accounts_pending ()
 			for (auto i (node.store.pending_begin (transaction, rai::pending_key (account, 0))), n (node.store.pending_begin (transaction, rai::pending_key (end, 0))); i != n && peers_l.size () < count; ++i)
 			{
 				rai::pending_key key (i->first);
-				std::shared_ptr<rai::block> block (node.store.block_get (transaction, key.hash));
-				assert (block);
+				std::shared_ptr<rai::block> block (include_active ? nullptr : node.store.block_get (transaction, key.hash));
 				if (include_active || (block && !node.active.active (*block)))
 				{
 					if (threshold.is_zero () && !source)
@@ -2073,8 +2072,7 @@ void rai::rpc_handler::pending ()
 		for (auto i (node.store.pending_begin (transaction, rai::pending_key (account, 0))), n (node.store.pending_begin (transaction, rai::pending_key (end, 0))); i != n && peers_l.size () < count; ++i)
 		{
 			rai::pending_key key (i->first);
-			std::shared_ptr<rai::block> block (node.store.block_get (transaction, key.hash));
-			assert (block);
+			std::shared_ptr<rai::block> block (include_active ? nullptr : node.store.block_get (transaction, key.hash));
 			if (include_active || (block && !node.active.active (*block)))
 			{
 				if (threshold.is_zero () && !source && !min_version)
@@ -3262,8 +3260,7 @@ void rai::rpc_handler::wallet_pending ()
 			for (auto ii (node.store.pending_begin (transaction, rai::pending_key (account, 0))), nn (node.store.pending_begin (transaction, rai::pending_key (end, 0))); ii != nn && peers_l.size () < count; ++ii)
 			{
 				rai::pending_key key (ii->first);
-				std::shared_ptr<rai::block> block (node.store.block_get (transaction, key.hash));
-				assert (block);
+				std::shared_ptr<rai::block> block (include_active ? nullptr : node.store.block_get (transaction, key.hash));
 				if (include_active || (block && !node.active.active (*block)))
 				{
 					if (threshold.is_zero () && !source)