diff --git a/cql3/statements/modification_statement.cc b/cql3/statements/modification_statement.cc
index 4080f9a1b7..6db7f22807 100644
--- a/cql3/statements/modification_statement.cc
+++ b/cql3/statements/modification_statement.cc
@@ -371,7 +371,6 @@ process_forced_rebounce(unsigned shard, query_processor& qp, const query_options
     // On the last iteration, re-bounce to the correct shard.
     if (counter != 0) {
         const auto shard_num = smp::count;
-        assert(shard_num > 0);
         const auto local_shard = this_shard_id();
         auto target_shard = local_shard + 1;
         if (target_shard == shard) {