diff --git a/common/route.c b/common/route.c
index 54b6e6e99..d7ec208d2 100644
--- a/common/route.c
+++ b/common/route.c
@@ -94,12 +94,7 @@ static bool dijkstra_to_hops(struct route_hop **hops,
 	/* OK, populate other fields. */
 	c = dijkstra_best_chan(dij, curidx);
 
-	if (c->half[0].nodeidx == curidx) {
-		(*hops)[num_hops].direction = 0;
-	} else {
-		assert(c->half[1].nodeidx == curidx);
-		(*hops)[num_hops].direction = 1;
-	}
+	(*hops)[num_hops].direction = c->half[0].nodeidx == curidx ? 0 : 1;
 	(*hops)[num_hops].scid = gossmap_chan_scid(gossmap, c);
 
 	/* Find other end of channel. */