diff --git a/actor.ts b/actor.ts
index 5786122..085b7e6 100644
--- a/actor.ts
+++ b/actor.ts
@@ -130,13 +130,13 @@ export class Turn {
 
     assert(ref: Ref, assertion: Assertion): Handle {
         const h = nextHandle++;
-        this.enqueue(ref.relay, t => {
-            const a = runRewrites(ref.attenuation, assertion);
-            if (a !== null) {
+        const a = runRewrites(ref.attenuation, assertion);
+        if (a !== null) {
+            this.enqueue(ref.relay, t => {
                 this.actor.outbound.set(h, ref);
                 ref.target.assert?.(t, a, h);
-            }
-        });
+            });
+        }
         return h;
     }