diff --git a/nano/lib/numbers.cpp b/nano/lib/numbers.cpp
index f33d6f3cb3..e8433be374 100644
--- a/nano/lib/numbers.cpp
+++ b/nano/lib/numbers.cpp
@@ -940,7 +940,11 @@ uint64_t nano::difficulty::from_multiplier (double const multiplier_a, uint64_t
 
 double nano::difficulty::to_multiplier (uint64_t const difficulty_a, uint64_t const base_difficulty_a)
 {
-	debug_assert (difficulty_a > 0);
+	if (difficulty_a == 0)
+	{
+		return 1.0;
+	}
+
 	return static_cast<double> (-base_difficulty_a) / (-difficulty_a);
 }