diff --git a/changes/ticket30308 b/changes/ticket30308
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b78e6b3e9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/ticket30308
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+  o Minor bugfixes (performance):
+    - When checking a node for bridge status, use a fast check to make sure
+      that its identity is set. Previously, we used a constant-time check,
+      which is not necessary when verifying a BUG() condition that causes
+      a stack trace. Fixes bug 30308; bugfix on 0.3.5.1-alpha.
diff --git a/src/feature/client/bridges.c b/src/feature/client/bridges.c
index 05f89ad36c..ea1aff9519 100644
--- a/src/feature/client/bridges.c
+++ b/src/feature/client/bridges.c
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ int
 node_is_a_configured_bridge(const node_t *node)
 {
   /* First, let's try searching for a bridge with matching identity. */
-  if (BUG(tor_digest_is_zero(node->identity)))
+  if (BUG(tor_mem_is_zero(node->identity, DIGEST_LEN)))
     return 0;
 
   if (find_bridge_by_digest(node->identity) != NULL)