diff --git a/src/torrent.cpp b/src/torrent.cpp
index 3ea607968..ef7c0f45a 100644
--- a/src/torrent.cpp
+++ b/src/torrent.cpp
@@ -11407,8 +11407,7 @@ namespace libtorrent
 		TORRENT_ASSERT(is_single_thread());
 		INVARIANT_CHECK;
 
-		TORRENT_ASSERT(m_connections.size() >= m_num_seeds + m_num_connecting);
-		return m_connections.size() - m_num_seeds - m_num_connecting;
+		return (std::max)(0, int(m_connections.size()) - m_num_seeds - m_num_connecting);
 	}
 
 	void torrent::tracker_request_error(tracker_request const& r