diff --git a/ircd/aio.cc b/ircd/aio.cc
index 50f7f4167..bd12d0c9a 100644
--- a/ircd/aio.cc
+++ b/ircd/aio.cc
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ try
 	{
 		ctx::wait();
 	}
-	while(!retval && !errcode);
+	while(retval == -2);
 
 	if(retval == -1)
 		throw_system_error(errcode);
@@ -212,7 +212,6 @@ catch(const ctx::interrupted &e)
 void
 ircd::fs::aio::request::handle()
 {
-	assert(this->retval || errcode);
 	if(likely(waiter && waiter != ctx::current))
 		ircd::ctx::notify(*waiter);
 }
diff --git a/ircd/aio.h b/ircd/aio.h
index 1040ff364..0875a7c4c 100644
--- a/ircd/aio.h
+++ b/ircd/aio.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ struct ircd::fs::aio::request
 	struct read;
 	struct write;
 
-	ssize_t retval {0};
+	ssize_t retval {-2};
 	ssize_t errcode {0};
 	ctx::ctx *waiter {ctx::current};