diff --git a/src/crimson/os/seastore/lba/lba_btree_node.h b/src/crimson/os/seastore/lba/lba_btree_node.h
index f6dd325a8ba..9f6e1ed296a 100644
--- a/src/crimson/os/seastore/lba/lba_btree_node.h
+++ b/src/crimson/os/seastore/lba/lba_btree_node.h
@@ -357,7 +357,11 @@ struct LBALeafNode
           it++;
           continue;
         } else {
-          assert(child->_is_exist_clean() || child->_is_exist_mutation_pending());
+          assert(child->_is_exist_clean() ||
+                 child->_is_exist_mutation_pending() ||
+                 // a pending child might have been invalidated and
+                 // its corresponding mapping has not been removed
+                 !child->_is_valid());
         }
       }
       SUBTRACET(seastore_lba, "examing v2: {}~{}, v1: {}~{}",
diff --git a/src/crimson/os/seastore/linked_tree_node.h b/src/crimson/os/seastore/linked_tree_node.h
index f6dc6f828db..c9cf58902ba 100644
--- a/src/crimson/os/seastore/linked_tree_node.h
+++ b/src/crimson/os/seastore/linked_tree_node.h
@@ -215,9 +215,9 @@ public:
   virtual bool _is_mutable() const = 0;
   virtual bool _is_exist_clean() const = 0;
   virtual bool _is_exist_mutation_pending() const = 0;
+  virtual bool _is_valid() const = 0;
 protected:
   parent_tracker_ref<ParentT> parent_tracker;
-  virtual bool _is_valid() const = 0;
   virtual bool _is_stable() const = 0;
   template <typename, typename, typename>
   friend class ParentNode;