diff --git a/ui/console.c b/ui/console.c
index d2d3534c49..f0292d7820 100644
--- a/ui/console.c
+++ b/ui/console.c
@@ -1540,7 +1540,7 @@ void dpy_gfx_replace_surface(QemuConsole *con,
     DisplaySurface *old_surface = con->surface;
     DisplayChangeListener *dcl;
 
-    assert(old_surface != surface);
+    assert(old_surface != surface || surface == NULL);
 
     con->surface = surface;
     QLIST_FOREACH(dcl, &s->listeners, next) {