diff --git a/libavcodec/snowdec.c b/libavcodec/snowdec.c
index c8a03277e6..b222c22269 100644
--- a/libavcodec/snowdec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/snowdec.c
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@
 #include "mpegvideo.h"
 #include "h263.h"
 
-#undef NDEBUG
-#include <assert.h>
-
 static av_always_inline void predict_slice_buffered(SnowContext *s, slice_buffer * sb, IDWTELEM * old_buffer, int plane_index, int add, int mb_y){
     Plane *p= &s->plane[plane_index];
     const int mb_w= s->b_width  << s->block_max_depth;