diff --git a/hiredis.c b/hiredis.c
index f6b1d54..3feba45 100644
--- a/hiredis.c
+++ b/hiredis.c
@@ -368,8 +368,7 @@ static int processItem(redisReader *r) {
     case REDIS_REPLY_ARRAY:
         return processMultiBulkItem(r);
     default:
-        redisSetReplyReaderError(r,sdscatprintf(sdsempty(),
-            "unknown item type '%d'", cur->type));
+        assert(NULL);
         return -1;
     }
 }