diff --git a/shared-bindings/_stage/__init__.c b/shared-bindings/_stage/__init__.c
index be8315efed..03775b1ded 100644
--- a/shared-bindings/_stage/__init__.c
+++ b/shared-bindings/_stage/__init__.c
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ STATIC mp_obj_t stage_render(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args) {
 
     mp_obj_t native_display = mp_instance_cast_to_native_base(args[6],
         &displayio_display_type);
-    mp_obj_assert_native_inited(native_display);
     if (!MP_OBJ_IS_TYPE(native_display, &displayio_display_type)) {
         mp_raise_TypeError(translate("argument num/types mismatch"));
     }