diff --git a/src/Base/Handle.cpp b/src/Base/Handle.cpp
index dec0240809..1827da7072 100644
--- a/src/Base/Handle.cpp
+++ b/src/Base/Handle.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ void Handled::ref() const
 
 void Handled::unref() const
 {
-    assert(_lRefCount > 0);
+    assert(*_lRefCount > 0);
     if (!_lRefCount->deref()) {
         delete this;
     }