diff --git a/icu4c/source/test/cintltst/cloctst.c b/icu4c/source/test/cintltst/cloctst.c
index 11b92a919f5..b3d663dc7f2 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/test/cintltst/cloctst.c
+++ b/icu4c/source/test/cintltst/cloctst.c
@@ -2456,7 +2456,6 @@ static int32_t _canonicalize(int32_t selector, /* 0==getName, 1==canonicalize */
     case 1:
         return uloc_canonicalize(localeID, result, resultCapacity, ec);
     default:
-        U_ASSERT(FALSE);
         return -1;
     }
 }
diff --git a/icu4c/source/test/intltest/loctest.cpp b/icu4c/source/test/intltest/loctest.cpp
index 7cb6ab6dab1..0a0cabe4800 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/test/intltest/loctest.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/test/intltest/loctest.cpp
@@ -1988,7 +1988,6 @@ static Locale _canonicalize(int32_t selector, /* 0==createFromName, 1==createCan
     case 2:
         return Locale(localeID);
     default:
-        U_ASSERT(FALSE);
         return Locale("");
     }
 }