diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 7cd35d2c37..fbbae766d5 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1156,9 +1156,7 @@ static void default_drive(int enable, int snapshot, BlockInterfaceType type,
     }
 
     dinfo = drive_new(opts, type);
-    if (!dinfo) {
-        exit(1);
-    }
+    assert(dinfo);
     dinfo->is_default = true;
 
 }