diff --git a/src/core/cgroup.c b/src/core/cgroup.c
index e8ba01037a..3cd0490255 100644
--- a/src/core/cgroup.c
+++ b/src/core/cgroup.c
@@ -4572,7 +4572,7 @@ static uint64_t unit_get_effective_limit_one(Unit *u, CGroupLimitType type) {
                                 assert_not_reached();
                 }
 
-        cc = unit_get_cgroup_context(u);
+        cc = ASSERT_PTR(unit_get_cgroup_context(u));
         switch (type) {
                 /* Note: on legacy/hybrid hierarchies memory_max stays CGROUP_LIMIT_MAX unless configured
                  * explicitly. Effective value of MemoryLimit= (cgroup v1) is not implemented. */