diff --git a/Lib/test/test_uuid.py b/Lib/test/test_uuid.py
index f113c551209..f21bd6dfa15 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_uuid.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_uuid.py
@@ -565,6 +565,9 @@ eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 12:34:56:78:90:ab
         self.assertTrue(node & (1 << 40), '%012x' % node)
         self.check_node(node)
 
+        node2 = self.uuid._random_getnode()
+        self.assertNotEqual(node2, node, '%012x' % node)
+
     @unittest.skipUnless(os.name == 'posix', 'requires Posix')
     def test_unix_getnode(self):
         if not importable('_uuid') and not importable('ctypes'):
diff --git a/Lib/uuid.py b/Lib/uuid.py
index cb2bc092bdf..be06a6eff3f 100644
--- a/Lib/uuid.py
+++ b/Lib/uuid.py
@@ -674,14 +674,14 @@ def getnode():
         getters = [_unix_getnode, _ifconfig_getnode, _ip_getnode,
                    _arp_getnode, _lanscan_getnode, _netstat_getnode]
 
-    for getter in getters:
+    for getter in getters + [_random_getnode]:
         try:
             _node = getter()
         except:
             continue
         if _node is not None:
             return _node
-    return _random_getnode()
+    assert False, '_random_getnode() returned None'
 
 
 _last_timestamp = None