diff --git a/sound/core/init.c b/sound/core/init.c
index df46bbc..8af467d 100644
--- a/sound/core/init.c
+++ b/sound/core/init.c
@@ -545,7 +545,8 @@
 {
 	int err;
 
-	snd_assert(card != NULL, return -EINVAL);
+	if (snd_BUG_ON(!card))
+		return -EINVAL;
 #ifndef CONFIG_SYSFS_DEPRECATED
 	if (!card->card_dev) {
 		card->card_dev = device_create_drvdata(sound_class, card->dev,