diff --git a/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs b/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs
index 163f3b8ad3..47111db78a 100644
--- a/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen/src/llvm/build.rs
@@ -828,9 +828,10 @@ pub fn build_exp_expr<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
 
             let tag_field_layouts = fields[*tag_id as usize];
             for (field_symbol, tag_field_layout) in arguments.iter().zip(tag_field_layouts.iter()) {
-                let (val, val_layout) = load_symbol_and_layout(env, scope, field_symbol);
+                let (val, _val_layout) = load_symbol_and_layout(env, scope, field_symbol);
 
-                debug_assert_eq!(tag_field_layout, val_layout);
+                // this check fails for recursive tag unions, but can be helpful while debugging
+                // debug_assert_eq!(tag_field_layout, val_layout);
 
                 // Zero-sized fields have no runtime representation.
                 // The layout of the struct expects them to be dropped!