diff --git a/include/gsl/pointers b/include/gsl/pointers
index b2804a3..0389b76 100644
--- a/include/gsl/pointers
+++ b/include/gsl/pointers
@@ -88,7 +88,12 @@ public:
 
     constexpr T get() const
     {
-        Ensures(ptr_ != nullptr);
+	/*
+	  not_null constructors and assignment operators always verify ptr_ is
+	  not set to null.   As long as references to ptr_ are not exposed publicly
+	  it is not additionally necessary to check the value against nullptr here.
+	*/
+	// Ensures(ptr_ != nullptr);
         return ptr_;
     }