diff --git a/src/intel/compiler/brw_fs_nir.cpp b/src/intel/compiler/brw_fs_nir.cpp
index 526cc13c71a..cdd3f7bccaa 100644
--- a/src/intel/compiler/brw_fs_nir.cpp
+++ b/src/intel/compiler/brw_fs_nir.cpp
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ fs_visitor::nir_emit_instr(nir_instr *instr)
       break;
 
    case nir_instr_type_deref:
-      /* Derefs can exist for images but they do nothing */
+      unreachable("All derefs should've been lowered");
       break;
 
    case nir_instr_type_intrinsic: