diff --git a/fsl/transform/nonlinear.py b/fsl/transform/nonlinear.py
index 630116ec3252546a7eab17b2cf5d3c49b252a39b..520c5b7a5d7cb11e6f2aea8aaab8b124735356b3 100644
--- a/fsl/transform/nonlinear.py
+++ b/fsl/transform/nonlinear.py
@@ -204,9 +204,6 @@ class DeformationField(NonLinearTransform):
 
         NonLinearTransform.__init__(self, image, src, ref, **kwargs)
 
-        if not self.sameSpace(self.ref):
-            raise ValueError('Invalid reference image: {}'.format(self.ref))
-
         self.__defType = defType