diff --git a/sched/sched/sched_lock.c b/sched/sched/sched_lock.c
index d8f75e7c90a..97ae1e90712 100644
--- a/sched/sched/sched_lock.c
+++ b/sched/sched/sched_lock.c
@@ -76,13 +76,13 @@ void sched_lock(void)
        * integer type.
        */
 
-      DEBUGASSERT(rtcb == NULL || rtcb->lockcount < MAX_LOCK_COUNT);
+      DEBUGASSERT(rtcb && rtcb->lockcount < MAX_LOCK_COUNT);
 
       /* A counter is used to support locking. This allows nested lock
        * operations on this thread (on any CPU)
        */
 
-      if (rtcb != NULL && rtcb->lockcount++ == 0)
+      if (rtcb->lockcount++ == 0)
         {
 #if (CONFIG_SCHED_CRITMONITOR_MAXTIME_PREEMPTION >= 0) || \
     defined(CONFIG_SCHED_INSTRUMENTATION_PREEMPTION)
diff --git a/sched/sched/sched_unlock.c b/sched/sched/sched_unlock.c
index ef760545de9..da75abe6bf1 100644
--- a/sched/sched/sched_unlock.c
+++ b/sched/sched/sched_unlock.c
@@ -64,13 +64,13 @@ void sched_unlock(void)
 
       /* rtcb may be NULL only during early boot-up phases */
 
-      DEBUGASSERT(rtcb == NULL || rtcb->lockcount > 0);
+      DEBUGASSERT(rtcb && rtcb->lockcount > 0);
 
       /* Check if the lock counter has decremented to zero. If so,
        * then pre-emption has been re-enabled.
        */
 
-      if (rtcb != NULL && rtcb->lockcount == 1)
+      if (rtcb->lockcount == 1)
         {
           irqstate_t flags = enter_critical_section_wo_note();
           FAR struct tcb_s *ptcb;