diff --git a/src/go/token/tree.go b/src/go/token/tree.go
index eaa2b30ee5c..2354ad0f330 100644
--- a/src/go/token/tree.go
+++ b/src/go/token/tree.go
@@ -325,7 +325,9 @@ func (t *tree) set(file *File, pos **node, parent *node) {
 		// This code path isn't currently needed
 		// because FileSet never updates an existing entry.
 		// Remove this assertion if things change.
-		panic("unreachable according to current FileSet requirements")
+		if true {
+			panic("unreachable according to current FileSet requirements")
+		}
 		x.file = file
 		return
 	}
@@ -344,7 +346,9 @@ func (t *tree) delete(pos **node) {
 		// This code path isn't currently needed because FileSet
 		// only calls delete after a positive locate.
 		// Remove this assertion if things change.
-		panic("unreachable according to current FileSet requirements")
+		if true {
+			panic("unreachable according to current FileSet requirements")
+		}
 		return
 
 	case x.left == nil: