diff --git a/runtime/src/rent_collector.rs b/runtime/src/rent_collector.rs
index 3aecf3f274..5d1d8dcd7f 100644
--- a/runtime/src/rent_collector.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/rent_collector.rs
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ impl RentCollector {
                                 1
                             },
                     );
-                    account.lamports -= rent_due;
+                    let _ = account.checked_sub_lamports(rent_due); // will not fail. We check above.
                     rent_due
                 } else {
                     let rent_charged = account.lamports();