diff --git a/util/tlm/sc_port.cc b/util/tlm/sc_port.cc
--- a/util/tlm/sc_port.cc
+++ b/util/tlm/sc_port.cc
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@
     CAUGHT_UP;
     SC_REPORT_INFO("transactor", "recvAtomic hasn't been tested much");
 
+    panic_if(pkt->cacheResponding(), "Should not see packets where cache "
+             "is responding");
+
+
     sc_core::sc_time delay = sc_core::SC_ZERO_TIME;
 
 
@@ -172,13 +176,15 @@
 {
     CAUGHT_UP;
 
+    panic_if(pkt->cacheResponding(), "Should not see packets where cache "
+             "is responding");
+
     /* We should never get a second request after noting that a retry is
      * required */
     sc_assert(!needToSendRequestRetry);
 
-    // simply drop inhibited packets and clean evictions
-    if (packet->memInhibitAsserted() ||
-        packet->cmd == MemCmd::CleanEvict)
+    // simply drop clean evictions
+    if (packet->cmd == MemCmd::CleanEvict)
         return true;
 
     /* Remember if a request comes in while we're blocked so that a retry