diff --git a/src/systemctl/systemctl.c b/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
index 852c4d1a860..de1a022ae36 100644
--- a/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
+++ b/src/systemctl/systemctl.c
@@ -797,12 +797,7 @@ static int list_dependencies_get_dependencies(DBusConnection *bus, const char *n
         while (dbus_message_iter_get_arg_type(&sub) != DBUS_TYPE_INVALID) {
                 const char *prop;
 
-                if (dbus_message_iter_get_arg_type(&sub) != DBUS_TYPE_DICT_ENTRY) {
-                        log_error("Failed to parse reply.");
-                        r = -EIO;
-                        goto finish;
-                }
-
+                assert(dbus_message_iter_get_arg_type(&sub) == DBUS_TYPE_DICT_ENTRY);
                 dbus_message_iter_recurse(&sub, &sub2);
 
                 if (bus_iter_get_basic_and_next(&sub2, DBUS_TYPE_STRING, &prop, true) < 0) {