diff --git a/env/io_posix.cc b/env/io_posix.cc
index 216fc897e..70dd7e9b0 100644
--- a/env/io_posix.cc
+++ b/env/io_posix.cc
@@ -184,16 +184,15 @@ Status PosixSequentialFile::Read(size_t n, Slice* result, char* scratch) {
 
 Status PosixSequentialFile::PositionedRead(uint64_t offset, size_t n,
                                            Slice* result, char* scratch) {
-  if (use_direct_io()) {
-    assert(IsSectorAligned(offset, GetRequiredBufferAlignment()));
-    assert(IsSectorAligned(n, GetRequiredBufferAlignment()));
-    assert(IsSectorAligned(scratch, GetRequiredBufferAlignment()));
-  }
+  assert(use_direct_io());
+  assert(IsSectorAligned(offset, GetRequiredBufferAlignment()));
+  assert(IsSectorAligned(n, GetRequiredBufferAlignment()));
+  assert(IsSectorAligned(scratch, GetRequiredBufferAlignment()));
+
   Status s;
   ssize_t r = -1;
   size_t left = n;
   char* ptr = scratch;
-  assert(use_direct_io());
   while (left > 0) {
     r = pread(fd_, ptr, left, static_cast<off_t>(offset));
     if (r <= 0) {