diff --git a/neo/renderer/tr_backend_draw.cpp b/neo/renderer/tr_backend_draw.cpp
index 11157a08..4979ef46 100644
--- a/neo/renderer/tr_backend_draw.cpp
+++ b/neo/renderer/tr_backend_draw.cpp
@@ -178,7 +178,13 @@ void RB_DrawElementsWithCounters( const drawSurf_t* surf )
 	
 	if( surf->jointCache )
 	{
-		if( !verify( renderProgManager.ShaderUsesJoints() ) )
+		// DG: this happens all the time in the erebus1 map with blendlight.vfp,
+		// so don't call assert (through verify) here until it's fixed (if fixable)
+		// else the game crashes on linux when using debug builds
+		// FIXME: fix this properly if possible?
+		//if( !verify( renderProgManager.ShaderUsesJoints() ) )
+		if( ! renderProgManager.ShaderUsesJoints() )
+			// DG end
 		{
 			return;
 		}