diff --git a/src/vnet/l2/l2_api.c b/src/vnet/l2/l2_api.c
index fa85274..e73d420 100644
--- a/src/vnet/l2/l2_api.c
+++ b/src/vnet/l2/l2_api.c
@@ -1102,7 +1102,7 @@
             ({
               vl_api_registration_t *vl_reg;
               vl_reg = vl_api_client_index_to_registration (reg->client_index);
-              ASSERT (vl_reg != NULL);
+              ALWAYS_ASSERT (vl_reg != NULL);
 
               if (reg && vl_api_can_send_msg (vl_reg))
                 {