diff --git a/datafusion/optimizer/src/common_subexpr_eliminate.rs b/datafusion/optimizer/src/common_subexpr_eliminate.rs
index c6d3a0b5aadd..7f4093ba110e 100644
--- a/datafusion/optimizer/src/common_subexpr_eliminate.rs
+++ b/datafusion/optimizer/src/common_subexpr_eliminate.rs
@@ -197,8 +197,8 @@ impl CommonSubexprEliminate {
         let mut new_input = new_input.data;
 
         if !common_exprs.is_empty() {
+            assert!(transformed);
             new_input = build_common_expr_project_plan(new_input, common_exprs)?;
-            transformed = true;
         }
 
         // return the transformed information