diff --git a/src/core/main.c b/src/core/main.c
index 3d7b2a5f649..88bef6740cc 100644
--- a/src/core/main.c
+++ b/src/core/main.c
@@ -1572,7 +1572,7 @@ static int become_shutdown(int objective, int retval) {
                 command_line[pos++] = exit_code;
         }
 
-        assert(pos < ELEMENTSOF(command_line) - 1);
+        assert(pos < ELEMENTSOF(command_line));
 
         /* The watchdog: */