diff --git a/model/sync-interest-table.cc b/model/sync-interest-table.cc
index 469e4e4..80f8862 100644
--- a/model/sync-interest-table.cc
+++ b/model/sync-interest-table.cc
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@
   expireInterests ();
   recursive_mutex::scoped_lock lock (m_mutex);
 
-  BOOST_ASSERT (m_table.size () != 0);
+  if (m_table.size () == 0)
+    BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION (Error::InterestTableIsEmpty ());
+
   Interest ret = *m_table.begin ();
   m_table.erase (m_table.begin ());