diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/zink/zink_draw.cpp b/src/gallium/drivers/zink/zink_draw.cpp
index 83e705c9f70..090b48a823a 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/zink/zink_draw.cpp
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/zink/zink_draw.cpp
@@ -985,8 +985,7 @@ update_mesh_pipeline(struct zink_context *ctx, struct zink_batch_state *bs)
          pipeline = zink_get_gfx_pipeline<ZINK_DYNAMIC_STATE3, true, true>(ctx, ctx->mesh_program, &ctx->gfx_pipeline_state, MESA_PRIM_COUNT);
       else
          pipeline = zink_get_gfx_pipeline<ZINK_DYNAMIC_STATE3, false, true>(ctx, ctx->mesh_program, &ctx->gfx_pipeline_state, MESA_PRIM_COUNT);
-   }
-   if (pipeline) {
+      assert(pipeline);
       pipeline_changed = prev_pipeline != pipeline || ctx->shobj_draw;
       if (BATCH_CHANGED || pipeline_changed)
          VKCTX(CmdBindPipeline)(bs->cmdbuf, VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_GRAPHICS, pipeline);