diff --git a/src/or/main.c b/src/or/main.c
index bd23141b97..a2b032dbcc 100644
--- a/src/or/main.c
+++ b/src/or/main.c
@@ -517,6 +517,12 @@ connection_stop_reading(connection_t *conn)
       return;
   });
 
+  /* if dummy conn then no socket and no event, nothing to do here */
+  if (conn->type == CONN_TYPE_AP && TO_EDGE_CONN(conn)->is_dns_request) {
+    tor_assert(!conn->read_event);
+    return;
+  }
+
   tor_assert(conn->read_event);
 
   if (conn->linked) {
@@ -542,6 +548,12 @@ connection_start_reading(connection_t *conn)
       return;
   });
 
+  /* if dummy conn then no socket and no event, nothing to do here */
+  if (conn->type == CONN_TYPE_AP && TO_EDGE_CONN(conn)->is_dns_request) {
+    tor_assert(!conn->read_event);
+    return;
+  }
+
   tor_assert(conn->read_event);
 
   if (conn->linked) {