diff --git a/Rich/RichFutureUtils/src/RichDecodedData.cpp b/Rich/RichFutureUtils/src/RichDecodedData.cpp
index 0502e64df50e2e1aaaa18f5766dde53d9d151d82..410b0685bc9032695b3a7a3027d3714068bfb867 100644
--- a/Rich/RichFutureUtils/src/RichDecodedData.cpp
+++ b/Rich/RichFutureUtils/src/RichDecodedData.cpp
@@ -93,9 +93,6 @@ void DecodedData::addSmartIDs( const LHCb::RichSmartID::Vector& ids ) {
     // ID vector to fill
     auto& ids = pdInfo->smartIDs();
 
-    // sanity assert to ensure this hit is not already present
-    assert( std::find( ids.begin(), ids.end(), id ) == ids.end() );
-
     // add the hit to the list
     ids.emplace_back( id );