diff --git a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs
index 816fdf6f..d451e4f1 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/routing_table/mod.rs
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ impl RoutingTable {
 
     pub fn lookup_node_ref(&self, node_id: DHTKey) -> Option<NodeRef> {
         let inner = self.inner.read();
-        if node_id == self.node_id() {
+        if node_id == inner.node_id {
             log_rtab!(debug "can't look up own node id in routing table");
             return None;
         }