diff --git a/hw/ip/rom_ctrl/rtl/rom_ctrl_fsm.sv b/hw/ip/rom_ctrl/rtl/rom_ctrl_fsm.sv
index b13518c706591..f270376be5fea 100644
--- a/hw/ip/rom_ctrl/rtl/rom_ctrl_fsm.sv
+++ b/hw/ip/rom_ctrl/rtl/rom_ctrl_fsm.sv
@@ -145,7 +145,10 @@ module rom_ctrl_fsm
       ReadingLow: begin
         // Switch to ReadingHigh when counter_lnt is true and kmac_rom_rdy_i & kmac_rom_vld_o
         // (implying that the transaction went through)
-        if (counter_lnt && kmac_rom_rdy_i && kmac_rom_vld_o) begin
+        //
+        // If counter_lnt is true then we requested the last non-top word from the ROM on the last
+        // cycle and the response will be available now. This gets taken if kmac_rom_rdy_i.
+        if (counter_lnt && kmac_rom_rdy_i) begin
           state_d = ReadingHigh;
         end
       end
@@ -311,4 +314,6 @@ module rom_ctrl_fsm
 
   assign alert_o = fsm_alert | checker_alert | unexpected_counter_change;
 
+  `ASSERT(CounterLntImpliesKmacRomVldO_A, counter_lnt -> kmac_rom_vld_o)
+
 endmodule