diff --git a/ConflictSet.cpp b/ConflictSet.cpp
index d43a829..8a53930 100644
--- a/ConflictSet.cpp
+++ b/ConflictSet.cpp
@@ -348,7 +348,8 @@ inline void Node16::copyChildrenAndKeyFrom(const Node3 &other) {
   memcpy(index, other.index, Node3::kMaxNodes);
   memcpy(children, other.children, Node3::kMaxNodes * sizeof(Child));
   memcpy(partialKey(), &other + 1, partialKeyLen);
-  for (int i = 0; i < numChildren; ++i) {
+  assert(numChildren == Node3::kMaxNodes);
+  for (int i = 0; i < Node3::kMaxNodes; ++i) {
     assert(children[i].child->parent == &other);
     children[i].child->parent = this;
   }