diff --git a/dependency/ucx/CMakeLists.txt b/dependency/ucx/CMakeLists.txt
index 501c9c5f..becb8b29 100644
--- a/dependency/ucx/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/dependency/ucx/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -147,9 +147,9 @@ set(UCS_MAX_LOG_LEVEL UCS_LOG_LEVEL_${LCI_UCX_MAX_LOG_LEVEL})
 string(TOUPPER ${UCS_MAX_LOG_LEVEL} UCS_MAX_LOG_LEVEL)
 
 set(LCI_UCX_ENABLE_ASSERT
-    ON
+    OFF
     CACHE STRING "Enable assertions")
-if(LCI_UCX_ENABLE_ASSERT)
+if(LCI_UCX_ENABLE_ASSERT OR LCI_DEBUG)
   set(ENABLE_ASSERT ON)
 endif()