diff --git a/bin/hledger-budget.hs b/bin/hledger-budget.hs
index 0b7ab5223..0334c9b1f 100755
--- a/bin/hledger-budget.hs
+++ b/bin/hledger-budget.hs
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ cmdmode = (mainmode [])
 
 journalBalanceTransactions' :: CliOpts -> Journal -> IO Journal
 journalBalanceTransactions' opts j = do
-    let assrt = not $ ignore_assertions_ opts
+    let assrt = not . ignore_assertions_ $ inputopts_ opts
     either error' return $ journalBalanceTransactions assrt j
 
 withJournalDo' :: CliOpts -> (CliOpts -> Journal -> IO ()) -> IO ()