diff --git a/src/protocol/request_response/mod.rs b/src/protocol/request_response/mod.rs
index a5c4ba14..38e631a1 100644
--- a/src/protocol/request_response/mod.rs
+++ b/src/protocol/request_response/mod.rs
@@ -296,9 +296,8 @@ impl RequestResponseProtocol {
             tracing::error!(
                 target: LOG_TARGET,
                 ?peer,
-                "state mismatch: peer doesn't exist",
+                "Peer does not exist or substream open failed during connection establishment",
             );
-            debug_assert!(false);
             return;
         };
 
diff --git a/src/protocol/request_response/tests.rs b/src/protocol/request_response/tests.rs
index ff1004df..03cd891e 100644
--- a/src/protocol/request_response/tests.rs
+++ b/src/protocol/request_response/tests.rs
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ async fn connection_closed_twice() {
 
 #[tokio::test]
 #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
-#[should_panic]
 async fn connection_established_twice() {
     let (mut protocol, _handle, _manager, _tx) = protocol();