diff --git a/lib/net/pool.js b/lib/net/pool.js
index 643f0776..4b63e19f 100644
--- a/lib/net/pool.js
+++ b/lib/net/pool.js
@@ -3553,7 +3553,7 @@ PeerList.prototype.remove = function remove(peer) {
   delete this.map[peer.hostname()];
 
   if (peer === this.load) {
-    assert(this.load === peer);
+    assert(peer.loader);
     peer.loader = false;
     this.load = null;
   }