diff --git a/sql/item.cc b/sql/item.cc
index 1d49671ff4c..9af2c300202 100644
--- a/sql/item.cc
+++ b/sql/item.cc
@@ -580,8 +580,7 @@ int Item_param::save_in_field(Field *field, bool no_conversions)
 {
   THD *thd= current_thd;
 
-  if (thd->command == COM_PREPARE)
-    return -1;
+  DBUG_ASSERT(thd->command == COM_EXECUTE);
   
   if (null_value)
     return (int) set_field_to_null(field);