diff --git a/zebra/kernel_netlink.c b/zebra/kernel_netlink.c
index c8ea8ae445..e6610f21be 100644
--- a/zebra/kernel_netlink.c
+++ b/zebra/kernel_netlink.c
@@ -1107,7 +1107,6 @@ void kernel_init(struct zebra_ns *zns)
 	if (nl_rcvbufsize)
 		netlink_recvbuf(&zns->netlink, nl_rcvbufsize);
 
-	assert(zns->netlink.sock >= 0);
 	netlink_install_filter(zns->netlink.sock,
 			       zns->netlink_cmd.snl.nl_pid);
 	zns->t_netlink = NULL;