diff --git a/queue.c b/queue.c
index 4dd68ea4a..0ded0badb 100644
--- a/queue.c
+++ b/queue.c
@@ -563,6 +563,8 @@ static void prvInitialiseNewQueue( const UBaseType_t uxQueueLength,
         TaskHandle_t pxReturn;
         Queue_t * const pxSemaphore = ( Queue_t * ) xSemaphore;
 
+        configASSERT( xSemaphore );
+
         /* This function is called by xSemaphoreGetMutexHolder(), and should not
          * be called directly.  Note:  This is a good way of determining if the
          * calling task is the mutex holder, but not a good way of determining the