diff --git a/src/journal-remote/journal-upload.c b/src/journal-remote/journal-upload.c
index 9d53cc4d09..db74355842 100644
--- a/src/journal-remote/journal-upload.c
+++ b/src/journal-remote/journal-upload.c
@@ -770,6 +770,8 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 static int open_journal(sd_journal **j) {
         int r;
 
+        assert(j);
+
         if (arg_directory)
                 r = sd_journal_open_directory(j, arg_directory, arg_journal_type);
         else if (arg_file)