diff --git a/opm/simulators/wells/BlackoilWellModelGeneric.cpp b/opm/simulators/wells/BlackoilWellModelGeneric.cpp
index b249eba1d..18d80e0a9 100644
--- a/opm/simulators/wells/BlackoilWellModelGeneric.cpp
+++ b/opm/simulators/wells/BlackoilWellModelGeneric.cpp
@@ -1139,8 +1139,6 @@ getGuideRateValues(const Well& well) const
 {
     auto grval = data::GuideRateValue{};
 
-    assert (this->guideRate_ != nullptr);
-
     const auto& wname = well.name();
     if (!this->wellState().hasWellRates(wname)) {
         // No flow rates for 'wname' -- might be before well comes
@@ -1221,8 +1219,6 @@ getGuideRateInjectionGroupValues(const Group& group) const
 {
     auto grval = data::GuideRateValue{};
 
-    assert (this->guideRate_ != nullptr);
-
     const auto& gname = group.name();
     if (this->guideRate_.has(gname, Phase::GAS)) {
         grval.set(data::GuideRateValue::Item::Gas,