diff --git a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.cpp b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.cpp
index 0cb1922df4..67b96b4047 100644
--- a/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.cpp
+++ b/libraries/octree/src/OctreeElement.cpp
@@ -739,7 +739,7 @@ void OctreeElement::setChildAtIndex(int childIndex, OctreeElement* child) {
         _externalChildrenMemoryUsage += NUMBER_OF_CHILDREN * sizeof(OctreeElement*);
 
     } else if (previousChildCount == 2 && newChildCount == 1) {
-        assert(child); // we are removing a child, so this must be true!
+        assert(!child); // we are removing a child, so this must be true!
         OctreeElement* previousFirstChild = _children.external[firstIndex];
         OctreeElement* previousSecondChild = _children.external[secondIndex];
         delete[] _children.external;