diff --git a/Python/thread_nt.h b/Python/thread_nt.h
index 0ce5e94f89b..e9dc880115f 100644
--- a/Python/thread_nt.h
+++ b/Python/thread_nt.h
@@ -77,9 +77,6 @@ EnterNonRecursiveMutex(PNRMUTEX mutex, DWORD milliseconds)
     } else if (milliseconds != 0) {
         /* wait at least until the target */
         _PyTime_t now = _PyTime_GetPerfCounter();
-        if (now <= 0) {
-            Py_FatalError("_PyTime_GetPerfCounter() == 0");
-        }
         _PyTime_t nanoseconds = _PyTime_FromNanoseconds((_PyTime_t)milliseconds * 1000000);
         _PyTime_t target = now + nanoseconds;
         while (mutex->locked) {