diff --git a/src/DataBase/DataBase.cc b/src/DataBase/DataBase.cc
index cc134f5df..c6e1c0d29 100644
--- a/src/DataBase/DataBase.cc
+++ b/src/DataBase/DataBase.cc
@@ -851,7 +851,7 @@ nodeListIndex(const NodeList<Dimension>& nodeList) const {
   ConstNodeListIterator itr = find(nodeListBegin(),
                                    nodeListEnd(),
                                    &nodeList);
-  ASSERT(itr != nodeListEnd());
+  VERIFY(itr != nodeListEnd());
   return std::distance(nodeListBegin(), itr);
 }