diff --git a/src/pow.cpp b/src/pow.cpp
index e57fd866f8a..e06d9662e6b 100644
--- a/src/pow.cpp
+++ b/src/pow.cpp
@@ -12,12 +12,9 @@
 
 unsigned int GetNextWorkRequired(const CBlockIndex* pindexLast, const CBlockHeader *pblock, const Consensus::Params& params)
 {
+    assert(pindexLast != NULL);
     unsigned int nProofOfWorkLimit = UintToArith256(params.powLimit).GetCompact();
 
-    // Genesis block
-    if (pindexLast == NULL)
-        return nProofOfWorkLimit;
-
     // Only change once per difficulty adjustment interval
     if ((pindexLast->nHeight+1) % params.DifficultyAdjustmentInterval() != 0)
     {