Check Path Would Still Exist After Removing Block

So I was wondering if there was a way to check that a path to a block for an entity would still exist after removing that block.

E.g in my AI class:

world.setBlockToAir(pos);

// Check for path to block

world.setBlockState(pos, originalState);

I've tried this approach but it doesn't seem to work. Does the block not actually get updated until the next tick? And so still exists when I'm checking for a path? Or have I overlooked something and maybe this isn't really feasible?

Thanks!