diff --git a/src/core/lib/iomgr/executor/threadpool.cc b/src/core/lib/iomgr/executor/threadpool.cc
index f0df1bd18eb..29eb0a67cf8 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/iomgr/executor/threadpool.cc
+++ b/src/core/lib/iomgr/executor/threadpool.cc
@@ -72,9 +72,9 @@ size_t ThreadPool::DefaultStackSize() {
 #endif
 }
 
-bool ThreadPool::HasBeenShutDown() {
+void ThreadPool::AssertHasBeenShutDown() {
   // For debug checking purpose, using RELAXED order is sufficient.
-  return shut_down_.Load(MemoryOrder::RELAXED);
+  GPR_DEBUG_ASSERT(!shut_down_.Load(MemoryOrder::RELAXED));
 }
 
 ThreadPool::ThreadPool(int num_threads) : num_threads_(num_threads) {
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ ThreadPool::~ThreadPool() {
 }
 
 void ThreadPool::Add(grpc_experimental_completion_queue_functor* closure) {
-  GPR_DEBUG_ASSERT(!HasBeenShutDown());
+  AssertHasBeenShutDown();
   queue_->Put(static_cast<void*>(closure));
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/lib/iomgr/executor/threadpool.h b/src/core/lib/iomgr/executor/threadpool.h
index 78f61a3139c..16277838fb0 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/iomgr/executor/threadpool.h
+++ b/src/core/lib/iomgr/executor/threadpool.h
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ class ThreadPool : public ThreadPoolInterface {
   // platforms is 64K.
   size_t DefaultStackSize();
   // Internal Use Only for debug checking.
-  bool HasBeenShutDown();
+  void AssertHasBeenShutDown();
 };
 
 }  // namespace grpc_core