diff --git a/cpp/src/community/k_truss_impl.cuh b/cpp/src/community/k_truss_impl.cuh
index 1871da4887..f152ef4564 100644
--- a/cpp/src/community/k_truss_impl.cuh
+++ b/cpp/src/community/k_truss_impl.cuh
@@ -148,12 +148,9 @@ struct extract_low_to_high_degree_edges_from_endpoints_t {
         if (src < dst /* tie-breaking using vertex ID */) {
           return cuda::std::optional<thrust::tuple<vertex_t, vertex_t, edge_t>>{
             thrust::make_tuple(src, dst, count[idx])};
-        } else if (src > dst /* tie-breaking using vertex ID */) {
+        } else {
           return cuda::std::optional<thrust::tuple<vertex_t, vertex_t, edge_t>>{
             thrust::make_tuple(dst, src, count[idx])};
-        } else {          // src == dst (self-loop)
-          assert(false);  // should not be reached as we pre-excluded self-loops
-          return cuda::std::nullopt;
         }
       }
     } else {