diff --git a/src/jtag/drivers/jlink.c b/src/jtag/drivers/jlink.c
index ae6a022ae..edf972575 100644
--- a/src/jtag/drivers/jlink.c
+++ b/src/jtag/drivers/jlink.c
@@ -1348,11 +1348,7 @@ static void jlink_tap_append_step(int tms, int tdi)
 {
 	int index_var = tap_length / 8;
 
-	if (index_var >= JLINK_TAP_BUFFER_SIZE) {
-		LOG_ERROR("jlink_tap_append_step: overflow");
-		*(uint32_t *)0xFFFFFFFF = 0;
-		exit(-1);
-	}
+	assert(index_var < JLINK_TAP_BUFFER_SIZE);
 
 	int bit_index = tap_length % 8;
 	uint8_t bit = 1 << bit_index;