4 files changed, 9 insertions, 10 deletions
diff --git a/libbuild2/algorithm.cxx b/libbuild2/algorithm.cxx
index 11f2a56..0924540 100644
--- a/libbuild2/algorithm.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/algorithm.cxx
@@ -71,8 +71,6 @@ namespace build2
   const target*
   search_existing (context& ctx, const prerequisite_key& pk)
   {
-    assert (ctx.phase == run_phase::match || ctx.phase == run_phase::execute);
-
     return pk.proj
       ? import_existing (ctx, pk)
       : search_existing_target (ctx, pk);
@@ -109,9 +107,6 @@ namespace build2
   const target*
   search_existing (const name& cn, const scope& s, const dir_path& out)
   {
-    assert (s.ctx.phase == run_phase::match ||
-            s.ctx.phase == run_phase::execute);
-
     // See also scope::find_prerequisite_key().
     //
     name n (cn);
diff --git a/libbuild2/algorithm.hxx b/libbuild2/algorithm.hxx
index 390516a..de09469 100644
--- a/libbuild2/algorithm.hxx
+++ b/libbuild2/algorithm.hxx
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ namespace build2
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT const target&
   search (const target&, const prerequisite&);
 
-  // As above but only search for an already existing target.
+  // As above but only search for an already existing target. Note that unlike
+  // the above, this version can be called during the execute phase.
   //
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT const target*
   search_existing (const prerequisite&);
@@ -38,6 +39,9 @@ namespace build2
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT const target&
   search (const target&, const prerequisite_key&);
 
+  // Note that unlike the above version, this one can be called during the
+  // load and execute phases.
+  //
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT const target*
   search_existing (context&, const prerequisite_key&);
 
@@ -94,8 +98,8 @@ namespace build2
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT const target&
   search (const target&, name, const scope&);
 
-  // Unlike the above version, this one can be called during the execute
-  // phase. Return NULL for unknown target types.
+  // Return NULL for unknown target types. Note that unlike the above version,
+  // these ones can be called during the load and execute phases.
   //
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT const target*
   search_existing (const name&,
diff --git a/libbuild2/file.hxx b/libbuild2/file.hxx
index 78be600..3bceb80 100644
--- a/libbuild2/file.hxx
+++ b/libbuild2/file.hxx
@@ -389,7 +389,8 @@ namespace build2
   operator<< (ostream&, const pair<const exe*, import_kind>&);
 
   // As import phase 2 but only imports as an already existing target. But
-  // unlike it, this function can be called during the execute phase.
+  // unlike it, this function can be called during the load and execute
+  // phases.
   //
   // Note: similar to search_existing().
   //
diff --git a/libbuild2/file.ixx b/libbuild2/file.ixx
index 7c09d3d..4a9f411 100644
--- a/libbuild2/file.ixx
+++ b/libbuild2/file.ixx
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ namespace build2
   inline const target*
   import_existing (context& ctx, const prerequisite_key& pk)
   {
-    assert (ctx.phase == run_phase::match || ctx.phase == run_phase::execute);
     return import (ctx, pk, false, nullopt, true, location ());
   }
 }