diff --git a/kafka/client_async.py b/kafka/client_async.py
index 29cb8c0fc..2e78e3b3a 100644
--- a/kafka/client_async.py
+++ b/kafka/client_async.py
@@ -852,8 +852,8 @@ def check_version(self, node_id=None, timeout=2, strict=False):
     def wakeup(self):
         with self._wake_lock:
             try:
-                assert self._wake_w.send(b'x') == 1
-            except (AssertionError, socket.error):
+                self._wake_w.sendall(b'x')
+            except socket.error:
                 log.warning('Unable to send to wakeup socket!')
 
     def _clear_wake_fd(self):