diff --git a/lib/ftl/ftl_core.c b/lib/ftl/ftl_core.c
index c2d7ff3a9..18cd7b4a3 100644
--- a/lib/ftl/ftl_core.c
+++ b/lib/ftl/ftl_core.c
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ ftl_wptr_from_band(struct ftl_band *band)
 			return wptr;
 		}
 	}
-
+	assert(false);
 	return NULL;
 }
 
@@ -389,8 +389,6 @@ ftl_md_write_fail(struct ftl_io *io, int status)
 	char buf[128];
 
 	wptr = ftl_wptr_from_band(band);
-	assert(wptr);
-
 	SPDK_ERRLOG("Metadata write failed @addr: %s, status: %d\n",
 		    ftl_addr2str(wptr->addr, buf, sizeof(buf)), status);
 
@@ -407,7 +405,6 @@ ftl_md_write_cb(struct ftl_io *io, void *arg, int status)
 	size_t id;
 
 	wptr = ftl_wptr_from_band(band);
-	assert(wptr);
 
 	if (status) {
 		ftl_md_write_fail(io, status);
@@ -722,7 +719,6 @@ ftl_close_direct_wptr(struct ftl_band *band)
 {
 	struct ftl_wptr *wptr = ftl_wptr_from_band(band);
 
-	assert(wptr);
 	assert(wptr->direct_mode);
 	assert(band->state == FTL_BAND_STATE_CLOSED);