diff --git a/bgpd/bgpd.c b/bgpd/bgpd.c
index 5d858ae14f..f8903ea568 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgpd.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgpd.c
@@ -3300,6 +3300,7 @@ int bgp_delete(struct bgp *bgp)
 	afi_t afi;
 	int i;
 
+	assert(bgp);
 	THREAD_OFF(bgp->t_startup);
 
 	if (BGP_DEBUG(zebra, ZEBRA)) {