diff --git a/daemon/defer.h b/daemon/defer.h
index 20e4ac92b..15fe86b75 100644
--- a/daemon/defer.h
+++ b/daemon/defer.h
@@ -50,7 +50,12 @@ static inline void defer_sample_addr(const union kr_sockaddr *addr, bool stream)
 
 	if (defer_sample_state.addr.ip.sa_family != AF_UNSPEC) {
 		// TODO: this costs performance, so only in some debug mode?
-		kr_assert(kr_sockaddr_cmp(&addr->ip, &defer_sample_state.addr.ip) == kr_ok());
+		if (kr_fails_assert(kr_sockaddr_cmp(&addr->ip, &defer_sample_state.addr.ip) == kr_ok())) {
+			kr_log_error(DEFER, "%s != %s\n",
+					kr_straddr(&addr->ip),
+					kr_straddr(&defer_sample_state.addr.ip));
+			abort();
+		}
 		return;
 	}