diff --git a/source/to_cpp1.h b/source/to_cpp1.h
index 7064b0cb4..feaa6ae1e 100644
--- a/source/to_cpp1.h
+++ b/source/to_cpp1.h
@@ -6719,7 +6719,9 @@ class cppfront
 
             //  Emit "auto" for deduced types (of course)
             if (type->is_wildcard()) {
-                assert(n.initializer);
+                if(!n.initializer) {
+                    return;
+                }
                 emit( *type, n.position() );
             }
             //  Otherwise, emit the type