diff --git a/helgrind/libhb_core.c b/helgrind/libhb_core.c
index 8101f2ae9..bd26f28a3 100644
--- a/helgrind/libhb_core.c
+++ b/helgrind/libhb_core.c
@@ -4429,7 +4429,6 @@ static void event_map_init ( void )
                    "libhb.event_map_init.4 (oldref tree)", 
                    HG_(free)
                 );
-   tl_assert(oldrefTree);
 
    oldrefGen = 0;
    oldrefGenIncAt = 0;
diff --git a/include/pub_tool_sparsewa.h b/include/pub_tool_sparsewa.h
index a37edf7ce..f918eb249 100644
--- a/include/pub_tool_sparsewa.h
+++ b/include/pub_tool_sparsewa.h
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@
 
 typedef  struct _SparseWA  SparseWA; /* opaque */
 
-// Create a new one, using the specified allocator/deallocator
+// Create a new one, using the specified allocator/deallocator.
+// Never returns NULL.
 SparseWA* VG_(newSWA) ( void*(*alloc_nofail)(const HChar* cc, SizeT), 
                         const HChar* cc,
                         void(*dealloc)(void*) );