diff --git a/src/core/nm-policy.c b/src/core/nm-policy.c
index efdb06360f..024f76546c 100644
--- a/src/core/nm-policy.c
+++ b/src/core/nm-policy.c
@@ -1662,14 +1662,15 @@ nm_policy_device_recheck_auto_activate_schedule(NMPolicy *self, NMDevice *device
 
     g_return_if_fail(NM_IS_POLICY(self));
     g_return_if_fail(NM_IS_DEVICE(device));
-    nm_assert(g_signal_handler_find(device,
-                                    G_SIGNAL_MATCH_DATA,
-                                    0,
-                                    0,
-                                    NULL,
-                                    NULL,
-                                    NM_POLICY_GET_PRIVATE(self))
-              != 0);
+    if (g_signal_handler_find(device,
+                              G_SIGNAL_MATCH_DATA,
+                              0,
+                              0,
+                              NULL,
+                              NULL,
+                              NM_POLICY_GET_PRIVATE(self))
+        == 0)
+        return;
 
     if (!c_list_is_empty(&device->policy_auto_activate_lst)) {
         /* already queued. Return. */