diff --git a/lib/node.c b/lib/node.c
index 460a966be..a2e9693a0 100644
--- a/lib/node.c
+++ b/lib/node.c
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ int node_fd(struct node *n)
 
 struct node_type * node_type(struct node *n)
 {
-	assert(n->state == STATE_INITIALIZED);
+	assert(n->state != STATE_DESTROYED);
 
 	return n->_vt;
 }