diff --git a/strops.c b/strops.c
index 81e7248..83f0394 100644
--- a/strops.c
+++ b/strops.c
@@ -132,7 +132,9 @@ bool_t strops_equals(const char* string1, const char* string2) {
 }
 
 bool_t strops_starts_with(const char* string1, const char* string2) {
-    assert(strops_length(string1) >= strops_length(string2) && "string2 cannot be longer than string1");
+    if (strops_length(string1) < strops_length(string2)) {
+        return 0;   
+    }
     bool_t starts_with = 1;
     ull_t i;
     for (i = 0; i < strops_length(string2); i++) {