diff --git a/lib/py/src/protocol/TCompactProtocol.py b/lib/py/src/protocol/TCompactProtocol.py
index 7ff0798..280b54f 100644
--- a/lib/py/src/protocol/TCompactProtocol.py
+++ b/lib/py/src/protocol/TCompactProtocol.py
@@ -291,9 +291,8 @@
     return (name, type, seqid)
 
   def readMessageEnd(self):
-    assert self.state == VALUE_READ
+    assert self.state == CLEAR
     assert len(self.__structs) == 0
-    self.state = CLEAR
 
   def readStructBegin(self):
     assert self.state in (CLEAR, CONTAINER_READ, VALUE_READ), self.state