diff --git a/src/shared/barrier.c b/src/shared/barrier.c
index f65363a67..b7dca7509 100644
--- a/src/shared/barrier.c
+++ b/src/shared/barrier.c
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ void barrier_set_role(Barrier *b, unsigned int role) {
         assert(b);
         assert(role == BARRIER_PARENT || role == BARRIER_CHILD);
         /* make sure this is only called once */
-        assert(b->pipe[1] >= 0 && b->pipe[1] >= 0);
+        assert(b->pipe[0] >= 0 && b->pipe[1] >= 0);
 
         if (role == BARRIER_PARENT)
                 b->pipe[1] = safe_close(b->pipe[1]);