diff --git a/timedrun.c b/timedrun.c
index 04f6aa2d9d..6d7afb333e 100644
--- a/timedrun.c
+++ b/timedrun.c
@@ -67,13 +67,11 @@ static int wait_for_process(pid_t pid)
     return rv;
 }
 
-static int spawn_and_wait(int argc, char **argv)
+static int spawn_and_wait(char **argv)
 {
     int rv = EX_SOFTWARE;
     pid_t pid = fork();
 
-    assert(argc > 1);
-
     switch (pid) {
     case -1:
         perror("fork");
@@ -100,5 +98,5 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     alarm(naptime);
 
-    return spawn_and_wait(argc+2, argv+2);
+    return spawn_and_wait(argv+2);
 }