diff --git a/eo/src/eoRanking.h b/eo/src/eoRanking.h
index ea82ed5f0..a8e6b69d1 100644
--- a/eo/src/eoRanking.h
+++ b/eo/src/eoRanking.h
@@ -48,19 +48,7 @@ public:
     */
     eoRanking(double _p = 2.0, double _e = 1.0) : pressure(_p), exponent(_e)
     {
-        if (pressure <= 1.0)
-        {
-            std::string msg = "eoRanking: pressure must be > 1.0";
-            eo::log << eo::errors << "ERROR: " << msg << std::endl;
-            throw eoException(msg);
-        }
-
-        if (exponent > 2.0)
-        {
-            std::string msg = "eoRanking: exponent must be <= 2.0";
-            eo::log << eo::errors << "ERROR: " << msg << std::endl;
-            throw eoException(msg);
-        }
+        assert(1 < pressure and exponent <= 2);
     }
 
     /* helper function: finds index in _pop of _eo, an EOT * */
diff --git a/eo/src/eoRankingCached.h b/eo/src/eoRankingCached.h
index 81cfa60d4..65b8c5fce 100644
--- a/eo/src/eoRankingCached.h
+++ b/eo/src/eoRankingCached.h
@@ -59,19 +59,7 @@ public:
     */
     eoRankingCached(double _p = 2.0, double _e = 1.0) : pressure(_p), exponent(_e), cached_pSize(0)
     {
-        if (pressure <= 1.0)
-        {
-            std::string msg = "eoRankingCached: pressure must be > 1.0";
-            eo::log << eo::errors << "ERROR: " << msg << std::endl;
-            throw eoException(msg);
-        }
-
-        if (exponent > 2.0)
-        {
-            std::string msg = "eoRankingCached: exponent must be <= 2.0";
-            eo::log << eo::errors << "ERROR: " << msg << std::endl;
-            throw eoException(msg);
-        }
+        assert(1 < pressure and exponent <= 2);
     }
 
     /*