diff --git a/lib/event/reactor.c b/lib/event/reactor.c
index a6af933cd..7998248d5 100644
--- a/lib/event/reactor.c
+++ b/lib/event/reactor.c
@@ -567,6 +567,8 @@ _reactor_request_thread_reschedule(struct spdk_thread *thread)
 
 	lw_thread = spdk_thread_get_ctx(thread);
 
+	assert(lw_thread != NULL);
+
 	lw_thread->resched = true;
 }