1 files changed, 6 insertions, 5 deletions
diff --git a/sv.c b/sv.c
index 93188dff27..ed7ebdcbe1 100644
--- a/sv.c
+++ b/sv.c
@@ -3530,16 +3530,17 @@ void
 Perl_sv_setpvn(pTHX_ register SV *sv, register const char *ptr, register STRLEN len)
 {
     register char *dptr;
-    {
-        /* len is STRLEN which is unsigned, need to copy to signed */
-	IV iv = len;
-	assert(iv >= 0);
-    }
+
     SV_CHECK_THINKFIRST(sv);
     if (!ptr) {
 	(void)SvOK_off(sv);
 	return;
     }
+    else {
+        /* len is STRLEN which is unsigned, need to copy to signed */
+	IV iv = len;
+	assert(iv >= 0);
+    }
     (void)SvUPGRADE(sv, SVt_PV);
 
     SvGROW(sv, len + 1);