diff --git a/passes/techmap/abc_new.cc b/passes/techmap/abc_new.cc
index 21ffa075b..4a4f3cee8 100644
--- a/passes/techmap/abc_new.cc
+++ b/passes/techmap/abc_new.cc
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ std::vector<Module*> order_modules(Design *design, std::vector<Module *> modules
 				sort.edge(submodule, m);
 		}
 	}
-	log_assert(sort.sort());
+	bool sorted = sort.sort();
+	log_assert(sorted);
 	return sort.sorted;
 }