diff --git a/lib/bcoin/chain.js b/lib/bcoin/chain.js
index 9763cc56..62dee6e0 100644
--- a/lib/bcoin/chain.js
+++ b/lib/bcoin/chain.js
@@ -548,8 +548,8 @@ Chain.prototype.locatorHashes = function locatorHashes(start) {
   i = top;
   for (;;) {
     existing = this.db.get(i);
-    if (existing)
-      hashes.push(existing.hash);
+    assert(existing);
+    hashes.push(existing.hash);
     i = i - step;
     if (i <= 0) {
       if (i + step !== 0)