diff --git a/packages/core/src/runtime/actor.ts b/packages/core/src/runtime/actor.ts
index bc2b4c8..f459c16 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/runtime/actor.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/runtime/actor.ts
@@ -164,7 +164,14 @@ export class Facet {
     }
 
     isInert(): boolean {
-        return this.children.size === 0 && this.outbound.size === 0 && this.inertCheckPreventers === 0;
+        const noKids = this.children.size === 0;
+        const noOutboundHandles = this.outbound.size === 0;
+        // The only outbound handle the root facet of an actor may have is a link
+        // assertion, from _halfLink(). This is not to be considered a "real"
+        // assertion for purposes of keeping the facet alive!
+        const isRootFacet = this.parent === null;
+        const noInertCheckPreventers = this.inertCheckPreventers === 0;
+        return noKids && (noOutboundHandles || isRootFacet) && noInertCheckPreventers;
     }
 
     preventInertCheck(): () => void {