diff --git a/src/net.h b/src/net.h
--- a/src/net.h
+++ b/src/net.h
@@ -864,8 +864,6 @@
     // This boolean is unusued in actual processing, only present for backward
     // compatibility at RPC/QT level
     bool m_legacyWhitelisted{false};
-    // If true this node is being used as a short lived feeler.
-    bool fFeeler{false};
     bool m_addr_fetch{false};
     // set by version message
     bool fClient{false};
@@ -886,6 +884,8 @@
 
     bool IsManualConn() const { return m_conn_type == ConnectionType::MANUAL; }
 
+    bool IsFeelerConn() const { return m_conn_type == ConnectionType::FEELER; }
+
 protected:
     mapMsgCmdSize mapSendBytesPerMsgCmd;
     mapMsgCmdSize mapRecvBytesPerMsgCmd GUARDED_BY(cs_vRecv);
diff --git a/src/net.cpp b/src/net.cpp
--- a/src/net.cpp
+++ b/src/net.cpp
@@ -1788,10 +1788,11 @@
                     {
                         LOCK(cs_vNodes);
                         for (const CNode *pnode : vNodes) {
-                            nRelevant +=
-                                pnode->fSuccessfullyConnected &&
-                                !pnode->fFeeler && !pnode->m_addr_fetch &&
-                                !pnode->IsManualConn() && !pnode->fInbound;
+                            nRelevant += pnode->fSuccessfullyConnected &&
+                                         !pnode->IsFeelerConn() &&
+                                         !pnode->m_addr_fetch &&
+                                         !pnode->IsManualConn() &&
+                                         !pnode->fInbound;
                         }
                     }
                     if (nRelevant >= 2) {
@@ -1915,9 +1916,9 @@
     {
         LOCK(cs_vNodes);
         for (const CNode *pnode : vNodes) {
-            if (!pnode->fInbound && !pnode->IsManualConn() && !pnode->fFeeler &&
-                !pnode->fDisconnect && !pnode->m_addr_fetch &&
-                pnode->fSuccessfullyConnected) {
+            if (!pnode->fInbound && !pnode->IsManualConn() &&
+                !pnode->IsFeelerConn() && !pnode->fDisconnect &&
+                !pnode->m_addr_fetch && pnode->fSuccessfullyConnected) {
                 ++nOutbound;
             }
         }
@@ -2007,7 +2008,7 @@
                     setConnected.insert(pnode->addr.GetGroup(addrman.m_asmap));
                     if (pnode->m_tx_relay == nullptr) {
                         nOutboundBlockRelay++;
-                    } else if (!pnode->fFeeler) {
+                    } else if (!pnode->IsFeelerConn()) {
                         nOutboundFullRelay++;
                     }
                 }
@@ -2988,7 +2989,7 @@
              const CAddress &addrBindIn, const std::string &addrNameIn,
              ConnectionType conn_type_in)
     : nTimeConnected(GetSystemTimeInSeconds()), addr(addrIn),
-      addrBind(addrBindIn), fFeeler(conn_type_in == ConnectionType::FEELER),
+      addrBind(addrBindIn),
       m_addr_fetch(conn_type_in == ConnectionType::ADDR_FETCH),
       fInbound(conn_type_in == ConnectionType::INBOUND),
       nKeyedNetGroup(nKeyedNetGroupIn),
diff --git a/src/net_processing.cpp b/src/net_processing.cpp
--- a/src/net_processing.cpp
+++ b/src/net_processing.cpp
@@ -935,7 +935,7 @@
 }
 
 static bool IsOutboundDisconnectionCandidate(const CNode &node) {
-    return !(node.fInbound || node.IsManualConn() || node.fFeeler ||
+    return !(node.fInbound || node.IsManualConn() || node.IsFeelerConn() ||
              node.m_addr_fetch);
 }
 
@@ -2537,7 +2537,7 @@
         if (!pfrom.fInbound) {
             connman.SetServices(pfrom.addr, nServices);
         }
-        if (!pfrom.fInbound && !pfrom.fFeeler && !pfrom.IsManualConn() &&
+        if (!pfrom.fInbound && !pfrom.IsFeelerConn() && !pfrom.IsManualConn() &&
             !HasAllDesirableServiceFlags(nServices)) {
             LogPrint(BCLog::NET,
                      "peer=%d does not offer the expected services "
@@ -2678,8 +2678,7 @@
         }
 
         // Feeler connections exist only to verify if address is online.
-        if (pfrom.fFeeler) {
-            assert(pfrom.fInbound == false);
+        if (pfrom.IsFeelerConn()) {
             pfrom.fDisconnect = true;
         }
         return true;
diff --git a/src/test/net_tests.cpp b/src/test/net_tests.cpp
--- a/src/test/net_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/net_tests.cpp
@@ -185,18 +185,15 @@
     CAddress addr = CAddress(CService(ipv4Addr, 7777), NODE_NETWORK);
     std::string pszDest;
 
-    // Test that fFeeler is false by default.
     auto pnode1 =
         std::make_unique<CNode>(id++, NODE_NETWORK, height, hSocket, addr, 0, 0,
                                 CAddress(), pszDest, ConnectionType::OUTBOUND);
     BOOST_CHECK(pnode1->fInbound == false);
-    BOOST_CHECK(pnode1->fFeeler == false);
 
     auto pnode2 =
         std::make_unique<CNode>(id++, NODE_NETWORK, height, hSocket, addr, 1, 1,
                                 CAddress(), pszDest, ConnectionType::INBOUND);
     BOOST_CHECK(pnode2->fInbound == true);
-    BOOST_CHECK(pnode2->fFeeler == false);
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_getSubVersionEB) {