diff --git a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/network.h b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/network.h
index 371a7ec..b10b910 100644
--- a/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/network.h
+++ b/dataflow_cpp/include/embb/dataflow/network.h
@@ -844,6 +844,7 @@ class Network : public internal::ClockListener {
     const int idx = clock % Slices;
     const int cnt = --sink_counter_[idx];
     assert(cnt == 0);
+    EMBB_UNUSED_IN_RELEASE(cnt);
   }
 
   /**