diff --git a/hstrat/juxtaposition/_impl_column/_calc_rank_of_last_retained_commonality_between_generic.py b/hstrat/juxtaposition/_impl_column/_calc_rank_of_last_retained_commonality_between_generic.py
index 4d1cc2cd..409fa201 100644
--- a/hstrat/juxtaposition/_impl_column/_calc_rank_of_last_retained_commonality_between_generic.py
+++ b/hstrat/juxtaposition/_impl_column/_calc_rank_of_last_retained_commonality_between_generic.py
@@ -54,5 +54,4 @@ def calc_rank_of_last_retained_commonality_between_generic(
     else:
         # discount collision_implausibility_threshold - 1 common strata
         # as potential spurious differentia collisions
-        assert preceding_common_strata_ranks[0] >= 0
         return preceding_common_strata_ranks[0]