diff --git a/libavcodec/mpegaudiodec.c b/libavcodec/mpegaudiodec.c
index 25a3975995..bcdbc5f819 100644
--- a/libavcodec/mpegaudiodec.c
+++ b/libavcodec/mpegaudiodec.c
@@ -263,7 +263,10 @@ static inline int l3_unscale(int value, int exponent)
     e  = table_4_3_exp  [4 * value + (exponent & 3)];
     m  = table_4_3_value[4 * value + (exponent & 3)];
     e -= exponent >> 2;
-    assert(e >= 1);
+#ifdef DEBUG
+    if(e < 1)
+        av_log(0, AV_LOG_WARNING, "l3_unscale: e is %d\n", e);
+#endif
     if (e > 31)
         return 0;
     m = (m + (1 << (e - 1))) >> e;