diff --git a/examples/nvme/identify/identify.c b/examples/nvme/identify/identify.c
index 647f4374b..7d8e4abd6 100644
--- a/examples/nvme/identify/identify.c
+++ b/examples/nvme/identify/identify.c
@@ -1999,6 +1999,7 @@ parse_args(int argc, char **argv)
 				return 1;
 			}
 
+			assert(optarg != NULL);
 			hostnqn = strcasestr(optarg, "hostnqn:");
 			if (hostnqn) {
 				size_t len;