diff --git a/src/compiler/scanner.ts b/src/compiler/scanner.ts
index e7b3872f2e3..b79106766da 100644
--- a/src/compiler/scanner.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/scanner.ts
@@ -1190,7 +1190,7 @@ namespace ts {
         }
 
         function scanBinaryOrOctalDigits(base: number): number {
-            Debug.assert(base !== 2 || base !== 8, "Expected either base 2 or base 8");
+            Debug.assert(base === 2 || base === 8, "Expected either base 2 or base 8");
 
             let value = 0;
             // For counting number of digits; Valid binaryIntegerLiteral must have at least one binary digit following B or b.