diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/memory/metaspace.cpp b/src/hotspot/share/memory/metaspace.cpp
index 7394fbaf45971..fe753e09357df 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/memory/metaspace.cpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/memory/metaspace.cpp
@@ -404,12 +404,11 @@ size_t MetaspaceGC::allowed_expansion() {
   size_t committed_bytes = MetaspaceUtils::committed_bytes();
   size_t capacity_until_gc = capacity_until_GC();
 
-  assert(capacity_until_gc >= committed_bytes,
-         "capacity_until_gc: " SIZE_FORMAT " < committed_bytes: " SIZE_FORMAT,
-         capacity_until_gc, committed_bytes);
-
   size_t left_until_max  = MaxMetaspaceSize - committed_bytes;
-  size_t left_until_GC = capacity_until_gc - committed_bytes;
+  // capacity_until_GC may have been decreased concurrently and may
+  // temporarily be lower than what metaspace has committed. Allow for that.
+  size_t left_until_GC = capacity_until_gc > committed_bytes ?
+      capacity_until_gc - committed_bytes : 0;
   size_t left_to_commit = MIN2(left_until_GC, left_until_max);
   log_trace(gc, metaspace, freelist)("allowed expansion words: " SIZE_FORMAT
             " (left_until_max: " SIZE_FORMAT ", left_until_GC: " SIZE_FORMAT ".",