diff --git a/source/compiler/sc1.c b/source/compiler/sc1.c
index 0040950..04193ee 100644
--- a/source/compiler/sc1.c
+++ b/source/compiler/sc1.c
@@ -2077,7 +2077,7 @@ static void declglb(char *firstname,int firsttag,int fpublic,int fstatic,int fst
      */
     assert(sym==NULL
            || sym->states==NULL && sc_curstates==0
-           || sym->states!=NULL && sym->next!=NULL && sym->states->first->index==sc_curstates);
+           || sym->states!=NULL && sym->states->first!=NULL && sym->states->first->index==sc_curstates);
     /* a state variable may only have a single id in its list (so either this
      * variable has no states, or it has a single list)
      */