please backport minor fix to 4.3 branch

[Maik Beckmann]

Hello,

The bug I reported 
  http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=35184
was fixed for 4.4 by removing a single line
  gcc_assert (i == -1);
which made no sense and caused the trouble.  As I mentined at the bug report 
it would be sweet if it could be done at the 4.3 branch as well.  

Since there hasn't been response to this request yet, I like to ask for again.

Thanks,
 -- Maik