diff --git a/std/bigint.d b/std/bigint.d
index 05f5aec611b..1d1cd5d2d17 100644
--- a/std/bigint.d
+++ b/std/bigint.d
@@ -1093,8 +1093,7 @@ private:
     // Generate a runtime error if division by zero occurs
     void checkDivByZero() pure const nothrow @safe
     {
-        if (isZero())
-            throw new Error("BigInt division by zero");
+        assert(!isZero(), "BigInt division by zero");
     }
 }