diff --git a/include/bitcoin/node/impl/sessions/session_peer.ipp b/include/bitcoin/node/impl/sessions/session_peer.ipp
index ce714794..6f77f77c 100644
--- a/include/bitcoin/node/impl/sessions/session_peer.ipp
+++ b/include/bitcoin/node/impl/sessions/session_peer.ipp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ TEMPLATE
 inline void CLASS::attach_protocols(const channel_ptr& channel) NOEXCEPT
 {
     BC_ASSERT(channel->stranded());
-    BC_ASSERT(channel->held());
+    BC_ASSERT(channel->held() || channel->stopped());
 
     using namespace system;
     using namespace network;