diff --git a/src/common/spells/spells.c b/src/common/spells/spells.c
index c19aeea91..192b527fa 100644
--- a/src/common/spells/spells.c
+++ b/src/common/spells/spells.c
@@ -535,7 +535,10 @@ select_familiar(const race * magerace, magic_t magiegebiet)
     retval = magerace->familiars[magiegebiet];
   }
 
-  assert (retval==NULL || retval->init_familiar!=NULL);
+  assert (retval!=NULL);
+  if (retval->init_familiar!=NULL) {
+    return NULL;
+  }
   return retval;
 }