diff --git a/components/esp32s2/esp_ds.c b/components/esp32s2/esp_ds.c
index 1597965481..f7e2b9564d 100644
--- a/components/esp32s2/esp_ds.c
+++ b/components/esp32s2/esp_ds.c
@@ -161,8 +161,9 @@ esp_err_t esp_ds_finish_sign(void *signature, esp_ds_context_t *esp_ds_ctx)
 
     free(esp_ds_ctx);
 
-    // should not fail if called with correct purpose
-    assert(ets_hmac_invalidate_downstream(ETS_EFUSE_KEY_PURPOSE_HMAC_DOWN_DIGITAL_SIGNATURE) == ETS_OK);
+    int res = ets_hmac_invalidate_downstream(ETS_EFUSE_KEY_PURPOSE_HMAC_DOWN_DIGITAL_SIGNATURE);
+    assert(res == ETS_OK); // should not fail if called with correct purpose
+    (void)res;
 
     ds_disable_release();