diff --git a/lib/vhost/vhost.c b/lib/vhost/vhost.c
index 1120477dd..626ffeb06 100644
--- a/lib/vhost/vhost.c
+++ b/lib/vhost/vhost.c
@@ -961,6 +961,7 @@ spdk_vhost_event_async_send(struct spdk_vhost_dev *vdev, spdk_vhost_event_fn cb_
 	ev_ctx = calloc(1, sizeof(*ev_ctx));
 	if (ev_ctx == NULL) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("Failed to alloc vhost event.\n");
+		assert(false);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}