diff --git a/python/dune/codegen/blockstructured/vectorization.py b/python/dune/codegen/blockstructured/vectorization.py
index f6ec204e011ebc04b196eebf047a3ea6422d9c44..10c8f148c73715f1c07568c476c7cbc55c4aa93c 100644
--- a/python/dune/codegen/blockstructured/vectorization.py
+++ b/python/dune/codegen/blockstructured/vectorization.py
@@ -486,7 +486,6 @@ def vectorize_micro_elements(knl):
             tail_vcl_size = vcl_size
             while tail_vcl_size > tail_size:
                 tail_vcl_size = tail_vcl_size // 2
-                assert(tail_vcl_size > 0)
             vectorize_tail = tail_vcl_size > 1
 
             # manually add tail, since split_iname with slabs tries to vectorize the tail