diff --git a/src/Model/Join.php b/src/Model/Join.php
index 9c1ce50635..916f30c29f 100644
--- a/src/Model/Join.php
+++ b/src/Model/Join.php
@@ -155,18 +155,12 @@ protected function createFakeForeignModel(): Model
 
     public function getForeignModel(): Model
     {
-        if (is_string($this->foreign_table)) {
-            // TODO this should be removed in the future
-            if (!isset($this->getOwner()->with[$this->foreign_table])) {
-                return $this->createFakeForeignModel();
-            }
-
-            return $this->getOwner()->with[$this->foreign_table]['model'];
+        // TODO this should be removed in the future
+        if (!isset($this->getOwner()->with[$this->foreign_table])) {
+            return $this->createFakeForeignModel();
         }
 
-        $this->foreign_table->assertIsModel();
-
-        return $this->foreign_table;
+        return $this->getOwner()->with[$this->foreign_table]['model'];
     }
 
     /**