diff --git a/src/libnm-platform/nm-linux-platform.c b/src/libnm-platform/nm-linux-platform.c
index 7bd7b9d960..48b64169df 100644
--- a/src/libnm-platform/nm-linux-platform.c
+++ b/src/libnm-platform/nm-linux-platform.c
@@ -9713,8 +9713,7 @@ constructed(GObject *_object)
           nm_platform_get_cache_tc(platform) ? "use" : "no");
 
     nle = nl_socket_new(&priv->genl, NETLINK_GENERIC);
-    if (nle)
-        _LOGE("unable to connect the generic netlink socket \"%s\" (%d)", nm_strerror(nle), -nle);
+    g_assert(!nle);
 
     nle = nl_socket_new(&priv->nlh, NETLINK_ROUTE);
     g_assert(!nle);