diff --git a/libavcodec/motion_est.c b/libavcodec/motion_est.c
index 749af72035..a0a5965321 100644
--- a/libavcodec/motion_est.c
+++ b/libavcodec/motion_est.c
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@
 #include "mpegutils.h"
 #include "mpegvideo.h"
 
-#undef NDEBUG
-#include <assert.h>
-
 #define P_LEFT P[1]
 #define P_TOP P[2]
 #define P_TOPRIGHT P[3]