diff --git a/python/setup.py b/python/setup.py
index 4e4a1df6..8a3cdd23 100644
--- a/python/setup.py
+++ b/python/setup.py
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ def get_local_version_suffix() -> str:
 
 
 def get_version():
-    assert False, root.resolve().parent / 'version.txt'
-    with open(root / "version.txt") as f:
+    with open(root.resolve().parent / "version.txt") as f:
         version = f.read().strip()
     version += get_local_version_suffix()
     return version