diff --git a/contrib/amcheck/verify_nbtree.c b/contrib/amcheck/verify_nbtree.c
index 29d0a33de5d..e4a7c431108 100644
--- a/contrib/amcheck/verify_nbtree.c
+++ b/contrib/amcheck/verify_nbtree.c
@@ -2367,7 +2367,7 @@ bt_child_highkey_check(BtreeCheckState *state,
 		 * If we visit page with high key, check that it is equal to the
 		 * target key next to corresponding downlink.
 		 */
-		if (!rightsplit && !P_RIGHTMOST(opaque))
+		if (!rightsplit && !P_RIGHTMOST(opaque) && !P_ISHALFDEAD(opaque))
 		{
 			BTPageOpaque topaque;
 			IndexTuple	highkey;