diff --git a/ConflictSet.cpp b/ConflictSet.cpp
index e50f4e8..9d23348 100644
--- a/ConflictSet.cpp
+++ b/ConflictSet.cpp
@@ -1882,9 +1882,7 @@ bool checkPointRead(Node *n, const std::span<const uint8_t> key,
       if (n->entryPresent) {
         return n->entry.pointVersion <= readVersion;
       }
-      int c = getChildGeq(n, 0);
-      assert(c >= 0);
-      n = getChildExists(n, c);
+      n = getFirstChildExists(n);
       goto downLeftSpine;
     }
 
@@ -3669,9 +3667,7 @@ Node *firstGeqLogical(Node *n, const std::span<const uint8_t> key) {
       if (n->entryPresent) {
         return n;
       }
-      int c = getChildGeq(n, 0);
-      assert(c >= 0);
-      n = getChildExists(n, c);
+      n = getFirstChildExists(n);
       goto downLeftSpine;
     }