diff --git a/copyparty/__version__.py b/copyparty/__version__.py
index 53aa4731..73dc9491 100644
--- a/copyparty/__version__.py
+++ b/copyparty/__version__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # coding: utf-8
 
-VERSION = (1, 9, 23)
+VERSION = (1, 9, 24)
 CODENAME = "prometheable"
 BUILD_DT = (2023, 12, 1)
 
diff --git a/copyparty/authsrv.py b/copyparty/authsrv.py
index 620902aa..55f66bc4 100644
--- a/copyparty/authsrv.py
+++ b/copyparty/authsrv.py
@@ -957,7 +957,6 @@ def _parse_config_file(
                 err = ""
                 try:
                     self._l(ln, 5, "volume access config:")
-                    assert vp
                     sk, sv = ln.split(":")
                     if re.sub("[rwmdgGha]", "", sk) or not sk:
                         err = "invalid accs permissions list; "
@@ -975,7 +974,6 @@ def _parse_config_file(
                 err = ""
                 try:
                     self._l(ln, 6, "volume-specific config:")
-                    assert vp
                     zd = split_cfg_ln(ln)
                     fstr = ""
                     for sk, sv in zd.items():