diff --git a/src/core/manager.c b/src/core/manager.c
index 739933b97c..0aed7de15c 100644
--- a/src/core/manager.c
+++ b/src/core/manager.c
@@ -809,6 +809,8 @@ static int manager_find_credentials_dirs(Manager *m) {
 }
 
 void manager_set_switching_root(Manager *m, bool switching_root) {
+        assert(m);
+
         m->switching_root = MANAGER_IS_SYSTEM(m) && switching_root;
 }