diff --git a/ra/ra.go b/ra/ra.go
index 9362139ab25..e68de3f639f 100644
--- a/ra/ra.go
+++ b/ra/ra.go
@@ -2349,22 +2349,11 @@ func (ra *RegistrationAuthorityImpl) checkOrderNames(names []string) error {
 }
 
 // GenerateOCSP looks up a certificate's status, then requests a signed OCSP
-// response for it from the CA. If the certificate is expired, it returns
-// berrors.NotFoundError. If the serial is in the `serials` table but not
-// `certificateStatus` (i.e. its partition in the certificateStatus table has
-// been cleaned up), it returns berrors.NotFoundError. If the serial is in
-// neither the `serials` table nor `certificateStatus`, it returns
-// berrors.UnknownSerialError.
-// This does not write back the result to the SA or any other storage.
+// response for it from the CA. If the certificate status is not available
+// or the certificate is expired, it returns berrors.NotFoundError.
 func (ra *RegistrationAuthorityImpl) GenerateOCSP(ctx context.Context, req *rapb.GenerateOCSPRequest) (*capb.OCSPResponse, error) {
 	status, err := ra.SA.GetCertificateStatus(ctx, &sapb.Serial{Serial: req.Serial})
-	if errors.Is(err, berrors.NotFound) {
-		_, err := ra.SA.GetSerialMetadata(ctx, &sapb.Serial{Serial: req.Serial})
-		if errors.Is(err, berrors.NotFound) {
-			return nil, berrors.UnknownSerialError()
-		}
-		return nil, err
-	} else if err != nil {
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}