diff --git a/pkg/sql/sqlliveness/slstorage/slstorage.go b/pkg/sql/sqlliveness/slstorage/slstorage.go
index 245860c12575..234b16519abb 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/sqlliveness/slstorage/slstorage.go
+++ b/pkg/sql/sqlliveness/slstorage/slstorage.go
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ func (s *Storage) Insert(
 
 		}
 		v := encodeValue(expiration)
-		batch.InitPut(k, &v, true)
+		batch.InitPut(k, &v, false /* failOnTombstones */)
 
 		return txn.CommitInBatch(ctx, batch)
 	}); err != nil {