diff --git a/src/attributes/otherfaction.c b/src/attributes/otherfaction.c
index 7e5739392..83c56e767 100644
--- a/src/attributes/otherfaction.c
+++ b/src/attributes/otherfaction.c
@@ -76,8 +76,7 @@ faction *visible_faction(const faction * f, const unit * u)
         attrib *a = a_find(u->attribs, &at_otherfaction);
         if (a) {
             faction *fv = get_otherfaction(a);
-            assert(fv != NULL);       /* fv should never be NULL! */
-            return fv;
+            if (fv) return fv;
         }
     }
     return u->faction;