diff --git a/src/_pytest/hookspec.py b/src/_pytest/hookspec.py
index 41c12a2cc..b0b8fd53d 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/hookspec.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/hookspec.py
@@ -509,9 +509,9 @@ def pytest_runtest_teardown(item: "Item", nextitem: Optional["Item"]) -> None:
 
     :param nextitem:
         The scheduled-to-be-next test item (None if no further test item is
-        scheduled). This argument can be used to perform exact teardowns,
-        i.e. calling just enough finalizers so that nextitem only needs to
-        call setup-functions.
+        scheduled). This argument is used to perform exact teardowns, i.e.
+        calling just enough finalizers so that nextitem only needs to call
+        setup functions.
     """
 
 
diff --git a/src/_pytest/runner.py b/src/_pytest/runner.py
index ae76a2472..124cf531a 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/runner.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/runner.py
@@ -479,15 +479,18 @@ class SetupState:
 
     def prepare(self, item: Item) -> None:
         """Setup objects along the collector chain to the item."""
+        needed_collectors = item.listchain()
+
         # If a collector fails its setup, fail its entire subtree of items.
         # The setup is not retried for each item - the same exception is used.
         for col, (finalizers, prepare_exc) in self.stack.items():
+            assert col in needed_collectors, "previous item was not torn down properly"
             if prepare_exc:
                 raise prepare_exc
 
-        needed_collectors = item.listchain()
         for col in needed_collectors[len(self.stack) :]:
             assert col not in self.stack
+            # Push onto the stack.
             self.stack[col] = ([col.teardown], None)
             try:
                 col.setup()