diff --git a/src/circ/elem_def.h b/src/circ/elem_def.h
index c57dd66..11e7afd 100644
--- a/src/circ/elem_def.h
+++ b/src/circ/elem_def.h
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ public:
         for (unsigned k = 0;;) {
             cc_t curr = cc_.load(std::memory_order_acquire);
             cc_t next = curr | (curr + 1); // find the first 0, and set it to 1.
-            if (next == 0) return 0;
             if (cc_.compare_exchange_weak(curr, next, std::memory_order_release)) {
                 return next ^ curr; // return connected id
             }