diff --git a/tools/grib_get.cc b/tools/grib_get.cc
index b80272763..1b867dd62 100644
--- a/tools/grib_get.cc
+++ b/tools/grib_get.cc
@@ -101,7 +101,6 @@ int grib_tool_init(grib_runtime_options* options)
                     exit(1);
                 }
             }
-            Assert(p);
             if (p && *p == ',') {
                 p++;
                 options->latlon_mask = strdup(p);
diff --git a/tools/grib_ls.cc b/tools/grib_ls.cc
index 08578502f..7e6e3e296 100644
--- a/tools/grib_ls.cc
+++ b/tools/grib_ls.cc
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@ int grib_tool_init(grib_runtime_options* options)
                     exit(1);
                 }
             }
-            Assert(p);
             if (p && *p == ',') {
                 p++;
                 options->latlon_mask = strdup(p);