diff --git a/dumux/material/fluidsystems/brineair.hh b/dumux/material/fluidsystems/brineair.hh
index 49594ed05fbfc85cc1dc6929cc1abdcc963048dc..3e5004f476c979296f67b2da22d3f9171a3da193 100644
--- a/dumux/material/fluidsystems/brineair.hh
+++ b/dumux/material/fluidsystems/brineair.hh
@@ -124,7 +124,6 @@ private:
         {
             switch (brineCompIdx)
             {
-                assert(brineCompIdx == Brine::H2OIdx || brineCompIdx == Brine::NaClIdx);
                 case Brine::H2OIdx: return H2OIdx;
                 case Brine::NaClIdx: return NaClIdx;
                 default: return 0; // this will never be reached, only needed to suppress compiler warning