diff --git a/src/llama-grammar.cpp b/src/llama-grammar.cpp
index 6be5cbe0e76fd..9b518d1ac64a5 100644
--- a/src/llama-grammar.cpp
+++ b/src/llama-grammar.cpp
@@ -1213,5 +1213,7 @@ void llama_grammar_accept_str(struct llama_grammar & grammar, const std::string
     }
 
     grammar.partial_utf8 = decoded.second;
-    GGML_ASSERT(!grammar.stacks.empty());
+    if (grammar.stacks.empty()) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Unexpected empty grammar stack after accepting piece: " + piece);
+    }
 }