diff --git a/core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/render/bufferBuilding/ColumnRenderBufferBuilder.java b/core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/render/bufferBuilding/ColumnRenderBufferBuilder.java
index 5839a3cfe..4f5898b60 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/render/bufferBuilding/ColumnRenderBufferBuilder.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/render/bufferBuilding/ColumnRenderBufferBuilder.java
@@ -275,7 +275,8 @@ public class ColumnRenderBufferBuilder
 						
 						// the old logic handled additional cases, but they never appeared to fire,
 						// so just these two cases should be fine
-						if (adjDetailLevel == thisDetailLevel || adjDetailLevel > thisDetailLevel)
+						boolean expectedDetailLevels = (adjDetailLevel == thisDetailLevel) || (adjDetailLevel > thisDetailLevel);
+						if (!expectedDetailLevels)
 						{
 							LodUtil.assertNotReach("Mismatch between adjacent detail level ["+adjDetailLevel+"] and this render source's detail level ["+thisDetailLevel+"]. Detail levels should be adj >= this.");	
 						}