diff --git a/doc/versionHistory.rst b/doc/versionHistory.rst
index 836a17ca..6c284dbb 100644
--- a/doc/versionHistory.rst
+++ b/doc/versionHistory.rst
@@ -6,6 +6,14 @@
 Version History
 ##################
 
+.. _lsst.ts.wep-12.5.0:
+
+-------------
+12.5.0
+-------------
+
+* Enable CutOutDonutsScienceSensorTask to operate for a pair with same-sign focusZ.
+
 .. _lsst.ts.wep-12.4.2:
 
 -------------
diff --git a/python/lsst/ts/wep/task/cutOutDonutsScienceSensorTask.py b/python/lsst/ts/wep/task/cutOutDonutsScienceSensorTask.py
index b7d9fbc0..437b4ae5 100644
--- a/python/lsst/ts/wep/task/cutOutDonutsScienceSensorTask.py
+++ b/python/lsst/ts/wep/task/cutOutDonutsScienceSensorTask.py
@@ -183,22 +183,12 @@ def assignExtraIntraIdx(self, focusZVal0, focusZVal1, cameraName):
         """
 
         if cameraName in ["LSSTCam", "LSSTComCam", "LSSTComCamSim"]:
-            errorStr = "Must have one extra-focal and one intra-focal image."
             if focusZVal0 < 0:
-                # Check that other image does not have same defocal direction
-                if focusZVal1 <= 0:
-                    raise ValueError(errorStr)
                 extraExpIdx = 1
                 intraExpIdx = 0
-            elif focusZVal0 > 0:
-                # Check that other image does not have same defocal direction
-                if focusZVal1 >= 0:
-                    raise ValueError(errorStr)
+            else:
                 extraExpIdx = 0
                 intraExpIdx = 1
-            else:
-                # Need to be defocal images ('FOCUSZ != 0')
-                raise ValueError(errorStr)
         elif cameraName == "LATISS":
             errorStr = "Must have two images with different FOCUSZ parameter."
             if focusZVal0 != focusZVal1: