diff --git a/src/core/lib/surface/call.cc b/src/core/lib/surface/call.cc
index e4da1f9cf36..4cd9f8fd238 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/surface/call.cc
+++ b/src/core/lib/surface/call.cc
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ class ChannelBasedCall : public Call {
       : Call(is_client, send_deadline, channel->event_engine()),
         arena_(arena),
         channel_(std::move(channel)) {
-    GPR_DEBUG_ASSERT(arena_ != nullptr);
+    DCHECK_NE(arena_, nullptr);
   }
 
   Arena* arena() final { return arena_; }