diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesListDelegate.java b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesListDelegate.java
index f89fc98d6..29f97e74b 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesListDelegate.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/GamesListDelegate.java
@@ -1715,7 +1715,7 @@ public class GamesListDelegate extends ListDelegateBase
                 enable = nothingSelected && XWPrefs.getStudyEnabled( m_activity );
                 Utils.setItemVisible( menu, R.id.games_menu_study, enable );
 
-                enable = BuildConfig.HAVE_KNOWN_PLAYERS && nothingSelected;
+                enable = nothingSelected && XwJNI.hasKnownPlayers();
                 Utils.setItemVisible( menu, R.id.games_menu_knownplyrs, enable );
 
                 enable = nothingSelected &&
diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/KnownPlayersDelegate.java b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/KnownPlayersDelegate.java
index 9d4c23f00..4d6a0f043 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/KnownPlayersDelegate.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/java/org/eehouse/android/xw4/KnownPlayersDelegate.java
@@ -194,8 +194,7 @@ public class KnownPlayersDelegate extends DelegateBase {
                 activity.startActivity( intent );
             }
         } else {
-            dlg.makeOkOnlyBuilder( R.string.no_knowns_expl )
-                .show();
+            Assert.failDbg();
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index a0173ba25..bbb80dca3 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/xwords4/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -2653,11 +2653,6 @@
     new games. Their names default to what the remote user has chosen,
     but you can edit them to make them easier for you to use.</string>
 
-    <!-- Shown instead of Known Players viewer when there aren't any -->
-    <string name="no_knowns_expl">There haven’t been any Known Players
-    saved yet. Known Players are harvested from networked games after
-    they connect successfully. Give it time.</string>
-
     <string name="knowns_mqtt_fmt">MQTT DevID: %1$s</string>
     <string name="knowns_bt_fmt">Bluetooth name: %1$s</string>
     <string name="knowns_smsphone_fmt">SMS Phone: %1$s</string>