diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/buildenv/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/buildenv/default.nix
index 08a271080655..9b7a828b8293 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/buildenv/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/buildenv/default.nix
@@ -121,10 +121,6 @@ lib.makeOverridable (
           (lib.remove null)
         ];
       in
-      assert
-        args ? name
-        || (args ? pname && args ? version)
-        || throw "buildEnv: expects arguments 'pname' and 'version', or 'name'";
       compatArgs
       // derivationArgs
       // {
diff --git a/pkgs/test/buildenv.nix b/pkgs/test/buildenv.nix
index 3d4f1477c49a..8ca7a1d7b2e4 100644
--- a/pkgs/test/buildenv.nix
+++ b/pkgs/test/buildenv.nix
@@ -34,8 +34,6 @@ let
         }).name;
       expected = "test-env-1.0";
     };
-
-    testMissingNameThrows = testingThrow (buildEnv { paths = [ ]; }).drvPath;
   };
 
   tests-passthru-paths = {