diff --git a/spacy/pipeline/spancat.py b/spacy/pipeline/spancat.py
index c517991f55a..c0e07a57ef2 100644
--- a/spacy/pipeline/spancat.py
+++ b/spacy/pipeline/spancat.py
@@ -311,8 +311,9 @@ def set_annotations(self, docs: Iterable[Doc], activations: ActivationsT) -> Non
         labels = self.labels
 
         indices = activations["indices"]
+        scores = activations["scores"]
         assert isinstance(indices, Ragged)
-        scores = cast(Floats2d, activations["scores"])
+        assert isinstance(scores, Floats2d)
 
         offset = 0
         for i, doc in enumerate(docs):