diff --git a/include/sway/server.h b/include/sway/server.h
index 94e8f2a27..bd96b0857 100644
--- a/include/sway/server.h
+++ b/include/sway/server.h
@@ -47,8 +47,6 @@ struct sway_server {
 
 	bool debug_txn_timings;
 
-	bool terminating;
-
 	struct sway_transaction *head_transaction; // singly linked list
 
 	// When a view is being destroyed and is waiting for a transaction to
diff --git a/sway/main.c b/sway/main.c
index 61ae6a5f6..a325dc3ad 100644
--- a/sway/main.c
+++ b/sway/main.c
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ struct sway_server server;
 void sway_terminate(int exit_code) {
 	terminate_request = true;
 	exit_value = exit_code;
-	server.terminating = true;
 	wl_display_terminate(server.wl_display);
 }
 
diff --git a/sway/tree/container.c b/sway/tree/container.c
index 0c860405e..2b9eb6368 100644
--- a/sway/tree/container.c
+++ b/sway/tree/container.c
@@ -319,15 +319,6 @@ struct sway_container *container_destroy_noreaping(struct sway_container *con) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// At this point the container being destroyed shouldn't have any children
-	// unless sway is terminating.
-	if (!server.terminating) {
-		if (!sway_assert(!con->children || con->children->length == 0,
-					"Didn't expect to see children here")) {
-			return NULL;
-		}
-	}
-
 	con->destroying = true;
 	list_add(server.destroying_containers, con);