diff --git a/tensorflow/contrib/lite/kernels/internal/types.h b/tensorflow/contrib/lite/kernels/internal/types.h
index 64a39dd2a2d..c6bc6074d49 100644
--- a/tensorflow/contrib/lite/kernels/internal/types.h
+++ b/tensorflow/contrib/lite/kernels/internal/types.h
@@ -268,8 +268,9 @@ class RuntimeShape {
   // This creates a shape padded to the desired size with the specified value.
   RuntimeShape(int new_shape_size, const RuntimeShape& shape, int pad_value)
       : size_(0) {
+    // If the following check fails, it is likely because a 4D-only kernel is
+    // being used with an array of larger dimension count.
     TFLITE_CHECK_GE(new_shape_size, shape.DimensionsCount());
-    TFLITE_CHECK_LE(new_shape_size, kMaxSmallSize);
     Resize(new_shape_size);
     const int size_increase = new_shape_size - shape.DimensionsCount();
     for (int i = 0; i < size_increase; ++i) {