diff --git a/src/unix/stream.c b/src/unix/stream.c
index 77d74ea7..afd48c1d 100644
--- a/src/unix/stream.c
+++ b/src/unix/stream.c
@@ -953,7 +953,8 @@ static void uv__read(uv_stream_t* stream) {
           stream->read2_cb((uv_pipe_t*)stream, -1, buf, UV_UNKNOWN_HANDLE);
         }
 
-        assert(!uv__io_active(&stream->io_watcher, UV__POLLIN));
+        assert(!uv__io_active(&stream->io_watcher, UV__POLLIN) &&
+               "stream->read_cb(status=-1) did not call uv_close()");
         return;
       }