diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 97a4ed70..6dab9723 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ NEWS
   * consistent inclusion of config.h at top of files (fixes #2073)
   * [core] add generic vector implementation
   * [core] replace array weakref with vector
+  * [base64] fix crash due to broken force_assert
 
 - 1.4.39 - 2016-01-02
   * [core] fix memset_s call (fixes #2698)
diff --git a/src/base64.c b/src/base64.c
index 25739bff..4ed0c03f 100644
--- a/src/base64.c
+++ b/src/base64.c
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ size_t li_to_base64_no_padding(char* out, size_t out_length, const unsigned char
 	/* check overflows */
 	force_assert(full_tuples < 2*full_tuples);
 	force_assert(full_tuples < 4*full_tuples);
-	force_assert(4*full_tuples < 4*full_tuples + out_tuple_remainder);
+	force_assert(4*full_tuples <= 4*full_tuples + out_tuple_remainder);
 	force_assert(require_space <= out_length);
 
 	for (i = 2; i < in_length; i += 3) {