diff --git a/loop.c b/loop.c
index c1f4aa7..e383325 100644
--- a/loop.c
+++ b/loop.c
@@ -555,7 +555,8 @@ void read_secret_chat (int fd) {
 void read_secret_chat_file (void) {
   if (binlog_enabled) { return; }
   int secret_chat_fd = open (get_secret_chat_filename (), O_CREAT | O_RDWR, 0600);
-  assert (secret_chat_fd >= 0);
+  if (secret_chat_fd < 0) { return; }
+  //assert (secret_chat_fd >= 0);
   int x;
   assert (read (secret_chat_fd, &x, 4) == 4);
   assert (x == SECRET_CHAT_FILE_MAGIC);