diff --git a/src/crimson/net/SocketMessenger.cc b/src/crimson/net/SocketMessenger.cc
index db9421e79e2..0a86eb0736f 100644
--- a/src/crimson/net/SocketMessenger.cc
+++ b/src/crimson/net/SocketMessenger.cc
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ SocketMessenger::SocketMessenger(const entity_name_t& myname,
     nonce{nonce}
 {}
 
+SocketMessenger::~SocketMessenger()
+{
+  ceph_assert(!listener);
+}
+
 seastar::future<> SocketMessenger::set_myaddrs(const entity_addrvec_t& addrs)
 {
   assert(seastar::this_shard_id() == master_sid);
diff --git a/src/crimson/net/SocketMessenger.h b/src/crimson/net/SocketMessenger.h
index 44c1d3c2137..9bd3cfc4f78 100644
--- a/src/crimson/net/SocketMessenger.h
+++ b/src/crimson/net/SocketMessenger.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class SocketMessenger final : public Messenger {
   SocketMessenger(const entity_name_t& myname,
                   const std::string& logic_name,
                   uint32_t nonce);
-  ~SocketMessenger() override { ceph_assert(!listener); }
+  ~SocketMessenger() override;
 
   seastar::future<> set_myaddrs(const entity_addrvec_t& addr) override;