diff --git a/src/ripple_app/peers/Peer.cpp b/src/ripple_app/peers/Peer.cpp
index f5b524bd3..d395b4f82 100644
--- a/src/ripple_app/peers/Peer.cpp
+++ b/src/ripple_app/peers/Peer.cpp
@@ -2512,7 +2512,7 @@ void PeerImp::addTxSet (uint256 const& hash)
 // (both sides get the same information, neither side controls it)
 void PeerImp::getSessionCookie (std::string& strDst)
 {
-    SSL* ssl = getHandshakeStream ().native_handle ();
+    SSL* ssl (getHandshakeStream ().ssl_handle ());
 
     if (!ssl) throw std::runtime_error ("No underlying connection");
 
diff --git a/src/ripple_net/basics/MultiSocket.h b/src/ripple_net/basics/MultiSocket.h
index efa1270f9..99943485f 100644
--- a/src/ripple_net/basics/MultiSocket.h
+++ b/src/ripple_net/basics/MultiSocket.h
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ public:
     virtual IPAddress remote_endpoint() = 0;
     virtual ProxyInfo getProxyInfo () = 0;
 
-    virtual SSL* native_handle () = 0;
+    /** Returns a pointer to the SSL handle or nullptr if no SSL. */
+    virtual SSL* ssl_handle () = 0;
 
     static MultiSocket* New (
         boost::asio::io_service& io_service,
diff --git a/src/ripple_net/basics/impl/MultiSocketType.h b/src/ripple_net/basics/impl/MultiSocketType.h
index af28dd1fe..e91024f11 100644
--- a/src/ripple_net/basics/impl/MultiSocketType.h
+++ b/src/ripple_net/basics/impl/MultiSocketType.h
@@ -125,9 +125,8 @@ protected:
         return m_proxyInfo;
     }
 
-    SSL* native_handle ()
+    SSL* ssl_handle ()
     {
-        bassert (m_native_ssl_handle != nullptr);
         return m_native_ssl_handle;
     }