diff --git a/epoll.c b/epoll.c
index 02906d9b..c3d85ebf 100644
--- a/epoll.c
+++ b/epoll.c
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ epoll_dispatch(struct event_base *base, struct timeval *tv)
 	}
 
 	event_debug(("%s: epoll_wait reports %d", __func__, res));
-	assert(res < epollop->nevents);
+	assert(res <= epollop->nevents);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < res; i++) {
 		int what = events[i].events;