diff --git a/src/network/netdev/netdev.c b/src/network/netdev/netdev.c
index 74b036a7ad..e49d142c3b 100644
--- a/src/network/netdev/netdev.c
+++ b/src/network/netdev/netdev.c
@@ -464,6 +464,7 @@ int netdev_set_ifindex_internal(NetDev *netdev, int ifindex) {
 
 static int netdev_set_ifindex_impl(NetDev *netdev, const char *name, int ifindex) {
         assert(netdev);
+        assert(netdev->ifname);
         assert(name);
         assert(ifindex > 0);