diff --git a/tools/eslint-rules/must-call-assert.js b/tools/eslint-rules/must-call-assert.js
index b991e29063aa..6990e526ad88 100644
--- a/tools/eslint-rules/must-call-assert.js
+++ b/tools/eslint-rules/must-call-assert.js
@@ -135,10 +135,11 @@ module.exports = {
         });
       },
 
-      [`CallExpression[callee.property.name="then"][arguments.length=1]>CallExpression:matches(${[
+      // Check the call chain before searching descendants for a return.
+      [`:matches(CallExpression[callee.property.name="then"][arguments.length=1]>CallExpression:matches(${[
         '[callee.name="mustCall"]',
         '[callee.object.name="common"][callee.property.name="mustCall"]',
-      ].join(',')})[arguments.length=1]>:has(ReturnStatement)`]: (node) => {
+      ].join(',')})[arguments.length=1]>*):has(ReturnStatement)`]: (node) => {
         context.report({
           node,
           message: 'Cannot mix `common.mustCall` and return statement inside a `.then` chain',