diff --git a/lib/log.c b/lib/log.c
index 7cee498f..efdabc44 100644
--- a/lib/log.c
+++ b/lib/log.c
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@ xbps_dbg_printf_append(struct xbps_handle *xhp, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
 	va_list ap;
 
-	assert(xhp);
+	if (!xhp)
+		return;
 
 	if ((xhp->flags & XBPS_FLAG_DEBUG) == 0)
 		return;
@@ -71,7 +72,8 @@ xbps_dbg_printf(struct xbps_handle *xhp, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
 	va_list ap;
 
-	assert(xhp);
+	if (!xhp)
+		return;
 
 	if ((xhp->flags & XBPS_FLAG_DEBUG) == 0)
 		return;