diff --git a/migration/cpr.c b/migration/cpr.c
index 584b0b98f7..180faab247 100644
--- a/migration/cpr.c
+++ b/migration/cpr.c
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ int cpr_state_save(MigrationChannel *channel, Error **errp)
     trace_cpr_state_save(MigMode_str(mode));
 
     if (mode == MIG_MODE_CPR_TRANSFER) {
+        g_assert(channel);
         f = cpr_transfer_output(channel, errp);
     } else {
         return 0;