diff --git a/src/demangle/Utility.h b/src/demangle/Utility.h
index 6e0fa38..db19dca 100644
--- a/src/demangle/Utility.h
+++ b/src/demangle/Utility.h
@@ -171,7 +171,8 @@
   void setCurrentPosition(size_t NewPos) { CurrentPosition = NewPos; }
 
   char back() const {
-    return CurrentPosition ? Buffer[CurrentPosition - 1] : '\0';
+    assert(CurrentPosition);
+    return Buffer[CurrentPosition - 1];
   }
 
   bool empty() const { return CurrentPosition == 0; }