diff --git a/worker/draft.go b/worker/draft.go
index 13f2403c696..a88b7457226 100644
--- a/worker/draft.go
+++ b/worker/draft.go
@@ -1729,7 +1729,8 @@ func (n *node) InitAndStartNode() {
 	_, restart, err := n.PastLife()
 	x.Check(err)
 
-	if _, hasPeer := groups().MyPeer(); !restart && hasPeer {
+	_, hasPeer := groups().MyPeer()
+	if !restart && hasPeer {
 		// The node has other peers, it might have crashed after joining the cluster and before
 		// writing a snapshot. Check from leader, if it is part of the cluster. Consider this a
 		// restart if it is part of the cluster, else start a new node.
@@ -1742,6 +1743,10 @@ func (n *node) InitAndStartNode() {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if n.RaftContext.IsLearner && !hasPeer {
+		glog.Fatal("Cannot start a learner node without peer alpha nodes")
+	}
+
 	if restart {
 		glog.Infof("Restarting node for group: %d\n", n.gid)
 		sp, err := n.Store.Snapshot()
@@ -1754,6 +1759,7 @@ func (n *node) InitAndStartNode() {
 			// zero-member Raft group.
 			n.SetConfState(&sp.Metadata.ConfState)
 
+			// TODO: Making connections here seems unnecessary, evaluate.
 			members := groups().members(n.gid)
 			for _, id := range sp.Metadata.ConfState.Nodes {
 				m, ok := members[id]