diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/header.c b/libvips/iofuncs/header.c
index 4cc9eac4..4b263b1b 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/header.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/header.c
@@ -480,6 +480,7 @@ vips_image_guess_interpretation( const VipsImage *image )
 	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_CMC: 
 	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_LCH: 
 	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_sRGB: 
+	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_HSV: 
 	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_scRGB: 
 	case VIPS_INTERPRETATION_YXY: 
 		if( image->Bands < 3 )
@@ -520,7 +521,6 @@ vips_image_guess_interpretation( const VipsImage *image )
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		g_assert( 0 );
 		sane = FALSE;
 		break;
 	}