diff --git a/libcudacxx/include/cuda/std/detail/libcxx/include/barrier b/libcudacxx/include/cuda/std/detail/libcxx/include/barrier
index fc3424d4efb..a7ec05ad691 100644
--- a/libcudacxx/include/cuda/std/detail/libcxx/include/barrier
+++ b/libcudacxx/include/cuda/std/detail/libcxx/include/barrier
@@ -418,7 +418,8 @@ private:
     static _LIBCUDACXX_INLINE_VISIBILITY constexpr
     uint64_t __init(ptrdiff_t __count) noexcept
     {
-        _LIBCUDACXX_DEBUG_ASSERT(__count >= 0, "");
+        // We would like to assert that __count >= 0 in debug mode, but this
+        // fails to compile due to constexpr.
 
         return (((1u << 31) - __count) << 32)
               | ((1u << 31) - __count);