diff --git a/src/shared/selinux-util.c b/src/shared/selinux-util.c
index 36ed12ed89..fb7da12fb6 100644
--- a/src/shared/selinux-util.c
+++ b/src/shared/selinux-util.c
@@ -586,8 +586,7 @@ int mac_selinux_create_file_prepare_at(
         _cleanup_free_ char *abspath = NULL;
         int r;
 
-        if (dir_fd < 0 && dir_fd != AT_FDCWD)
-                return -EBADF;
+        assert(dir_fd >= 0 || dir_fd == AT_FDCWD);
 
         r = selinux_init(/* force= */ false);
         if (r <= 0)