diff --git a/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc b/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
index 05eb7e234..3fec2c06c 100755
--- a/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
+++ b/src/nix-build/nix-build.cc
@@ -389,8 +389,7 @@ static void main_nix_build(int argc, char * * argv)
 
         if (settings.isExperimentalFeatureEnabled("ca-derivations")) {
             auto resolvedDrv = drv.tryResolve(*store);
-            if (!resolvedDrv)
-                throw Error("unable to resolve the derivation '%s'. nix-shell can’t continue", drvInfo.queryDrvPath());
+            assert(resolvedDrv && "Successfully resolved the derivation");
             drv = *resolvedDrv;
         }