*** old/src/share/vm/opto/compile.cpp	Thu Dec 18 10:35:27 2008
--- new/src/share/vm/opto/compile.cpp	Thu Dec 18 10:35:27 2008

*** 2190,2200 ****
--- 2190,2202 ----
      }
      break;
  
    case Op_DecodeN:
      assert(!n->in(1)->is_EncodeP(), "should be optimized out");
      assert(n->in(0) == NULL, "no control");
+     // DecodeN could be pinned on Sparc where it can't be fold into
+     // an address expression, see the code for Op_CastPP above.
+     assert(n->in(0) == NULL || !Matcher::clone_shift_expressions, "no control except on sparc");
      break;
  
    case Op_EncodeP: {
      Node* in1 = n->in(1);
      if (in1->is_DecodeN()) {