diff --git a/src/gpu/GrContext.cpp b/src/gpu/GrContext.cpp
index edf45b8f51..f91f4206c2 100644
--- a/src/gpu/GrContext.cpp
+++ b/src/gpu/GrContext.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,6 @@ GrStencilBuffer* GrContext::findAndLockStencilBuffer(int width, int height,
 }
 
 void GrContext::unlockStencilBuffer(GrStencilBuffer* sb) {
-    ASSERT_OWNED_RESOURCE(sb);
 
     if (NULL == sb->getCacheEntry()) {
         // This can happen when the GrResourceCache is being deleted. If
@@ -256,6 +255,10 @@ void GrContext::unlockStencilBuffer(GrStencilBuffer* sb) {
         return;
     }
 
+    // If the texture cache still exists we know the GrGpu & GrContext still
+    // exist so we can verify ownership.
+    ASSERT_OWNED_RESOURCE(sb);
+
     fTextureCache->unlock(sb->getCacheEntry());
 }