diff --git a/crates/core/src/node/network_bridge/handshake.rs b/crates/core/src/node/network_bridge/handshake.rs
index a1874022c..14d147a20 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/node/network_bridge/handshake.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/node/network_bridge/handshake.rs
@@ -677,14 +677,10 @@ async fn wait_for_gw_confirmation(
 
         match deserialized {
             NetMessage::V1(NetMessageV1::Connect(ConnectMsg::Response {
-                msg:
-                    ConnectResponse::AcceptedBy {
-                        accepted, acceptor, ..
-                    },
+                msg: ConnectResponse::AcceptedBy { accepted, .. },
                 ..
             })) => {
                 // the first message should always be a response to the initial connection request at the gateway
-                debug_assert_eq!(acceptor.peer.addr, conn.remote_addr());
                 if accepted {
                     return Ok(InternalEvent::OutboundGwConnConfirmed(gw_peer_id, conn));
                 }