diff --git a/src/osg/MemoryManager.cpp b/src/osg/MemoryManager.cpp
index 59dca3d32..527cdbfb1 100644
--- a/src/osg/MemoryManager.cpp
+++ b/src/osg/MemoryManager.cpp
@@ -423,10 +423,7 @@ static    void    wipeWithPattern(sAllocUnit *allocUnit, unsigned long pattern,
         char        *cptr = (char *) lptr;
         for (i = 0; i < (length & 0x3); i++, cptr++, shiftCount += 8)
         {
-            char res1 = (pattern & (0xff << shiftCount)) >> shiftCount;
-            char res2 = static_cast<char>((pattern >> shiftCount) & 0xff);
-            assert(res1==res2);
-            *cptr = (pattern & (0xff << shiftCount)) >> shiftCount;
+            *cptr = static_cast<char>((pattern >> shiftCount) & 0xff);
         }
     }