diff --git a/ggml/src/ggml-alloc.c b/ggml/src/ggml-alloc.c
index a3d3f690..5fd379f6 100644
--- a/ggml/src/ggml-alloc.c
+++ b/ggml/src/ggml-alloc.c
@@ -816,7 +816,10 @@ static void ggml_gallocr_init_tensor(ggml_gallocr_t galloc, struct ggml_tensor *
 static bool ggml_gallocr_node_needs_realloc(ggml_gallocr_t galloc, struct ggml_tensor * node, struct tensor_alloc * talloc) {
     size_t node_size = 0;
     if (!node->data && !node->view_src) {
-        GGML_ASSERT(talloc->buffer_id >= 0); // prevent segfault when misusing the API
+        // If we previously had data but don't now then reallocate
+        if (talloc->buffer_id < 0) {
+            return false;
+        }
         node_size = ggml_backend_buft_get_alloc_size(galloc->bufts[talloc->buffer_id], node);
     }
     return talloc->size_max >= node_size;