diff --git a/src/ripple/consensus/Consensus.h b/src/ripple/consensus/Consensus.h
index bc843316448..f7ebcb6e509 100644
--- a/src/ripple/consensus/Consensus.h
+++ b/src/ripple/consensus/Consensus.h
@@ -1870,6 +1870,9 @@ Consensus<Adaptor>::updateOurPositions(bool const share)
             votesByCloseTime.insert({voteCount, closeTime});
             ss << closeTime.time_since_epoch().count() << ':' << voteCount;
         }
+        // These always gets populated because currPeerPositions_ is not
+        // empty to end up here, so at least 1 close time has at least 1 vote.
+        assert(!currPeerPositions_.empty());
         std::optional<int> maxVote;
         std::set<NetClock::time_point> maxCloseTimes;
         // Highest vote getter is last. Track each close time that is tied
@@ -1877,7 +1880,7 @@ Consensus<Adaptor>::updateOurPositions(bool const share)
         for (auto rit = votesByCloseTime.crbegin();
             rit != votesByCloseTime.crend(); ++rit)
         {
-            int const& voteCount = rit->first;
+            int const voteCount = rit->first;
             if (!maxVote.has_value())
                 maxVote = voteCount;
             else if (voteCount < *maxVote)
@@ -1919,7 +1922,7 @@ Consensus<Adaptor>::updateOurPositions(bool const share)
             consensusCloseTime = bestCloseTime;
             ss << "Close time " << bestCloseTime.time_since_epoch().count() << " has " <<
                 *maxVote << " votes, which is >= the threshold (" << threshVote
-                << " to make that our positions if it isn't already.";
+                << " to make that our position if it isn't already.";
             if (*maxVote >= threshConsensus)
             {
                 haveCloseTimeConsensus_ = true;