diff --git a/pkg/roachpb/data.go b/pkg/roachpb/data.go
index be5e5e090bc5..f653828611bc 100644
--- a/pkg/roachpb/data.go
+++ b/pkg/roachpb/data.go
@@ -1876,7 +1876,7 @@ func (l *Lease) Equal(that interface{}) bool {
 		if ok {
 			that1 = &that2
 		} else {
-			return false
+			panic(fmt.Sprintf("attempting to compare lease to %T", that))
 		}
 	}
 	if that1 == nil {