diff --git a/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c b/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c
index 73b2c8315..401036dab 100644
--- a/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c
+++ b/src/joystick/SDL_joystick.c
@@ -403,8 +403,6 @@ SDL_JoystickQuit(void)
     /* Stop the event polling */
     SDL_numjoysticks = 0;
 
-    SDL_assert( (SDL_joysticks == NULL) == (numsticks == 0) );
-
     for (i = 0; i < numsticks; i++) {
         SDL_Joystick *stick = SDL_joysticks[i];
         if (stick && (stick->ref_count >= 1)) {