diff --git a/vm/compiler/IntermediateRep.c b/vm/compiler/IntermediateRep.c
index 018d890..b3e6490 100644
--- a/vm/compiler/IntermediateRep.c
+++ b/vm/compiler/IntermediateRep.c
@@ -81,8 +81,7 @@
  */
 void dvmCompilerInsertLIRBefore(LIR *currentLIR, LIR *newLIR)
 {
-    if (currentLIR->prev == NULL)
-        dvmAbort();
+    assert(currentLIR->prev != NULL);
     LIR *prevLIR = currentLIR->prev;
 
     prevLIR->next = newLIR;