diff --git a/kong/router/atc.lua b/kong/router/atc.lua
index 84e4b84373e0..bfe043429cb9 100644
--- a/kong/router/atc.lua
+++ b/kong/router/atc.lua
@@ -231,7 +231,8 @@ local function new_from_previous(routes, get_exp_priority, old_router)
       r.seen = nil
 
     else
-      inst:remove_matcher(id)
+      assert(inst:remove_matcher(id))
+
       old_routes[id] = nil
       old_services[id] = nil
     end