diff --git a/src/p_saveg.c b/src/p_saveg.c
index a10c4ed5a..6eba37486 100644
--- a/src/p_saveg.c
+++ b/src/p_saveg.c
@@ -3285,8 +3285,8 @@ static void P_NetArchiveThinkers(savebuffer_t *save)
 				continue;
 			}
 #ifdef PARANOIA
-			else if (th->function.acp1 != (actionf_p1)P_RemoveThinkerDelayed) // wait garbage collection
-				I_Error("unknown thinker type %p", th->function.acp1);
+			else
+				I_Assert(th->function.acp1 == (actionf_p1)P_RemoveThinkerDelayed); // wait garbage collection
 #endif
 		}