diff --git a/hw/net/vhost_net.c b/hw/net/vhost_net.c
index c4eecc6f36..6db23ca323 100644
--- a/hw/net/vhost_net.c
+++ b/hw/net/vhost_net.c
@@ -507,6 +507,7 @@ VHostNetState *get_vhost_net(NetClientState *nc)
     switch (nc->info->type) {
     case NET_CLIENT_DRIVER_TAP:
         vhost_net = tap_get_vhost_net(nc);
+        assert(vhost_net);
         break;
 #ifdef CONFIG_VHOST_NET_USER
     case NET_CLIENT_DRIVER_VHOST_USER: