diff --git a/bgpd/bgp_updgrp.c b/bgpd/bgp_updgrp.c
index c607c4577d..6a65f982e0 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgp_updgrp.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgp_updgrp.c
@@ -905,7 +905,7 @@ static void update_subgroup_add_peer(struct update_subgroup *subgrp,
 static void update_subgroup_remove_peer_internal(struct update_subgroup *subgrp,
 						 struct peer_af *paf)
 {
-	assert(subgrp && paf);
+	assert(subgrp && paf && subgrp->update_group);
 
 	if (bgp_debug_peer_updout_enabled(paf->peer->host)) {
 		UPDGRP_PEER_DBG_DIS(subgrp->update_group);