diff --git a/src/util-radix-tree.c b/src/util-radix-tree.c
index c004138ac0..714cdbf4f6 100644
--- a/src/util-radix-tree.c
+++ b/src/util-radix-tree.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include "util-byte.h"
 #include "util-cidr.h"
 #include "util-print.h"
+#include "util-validate.h"
 
 /**
  * \brief Allocates and returns a new instance of SCRadixUserData.
@@ -591,6 +592,9 @@ static SCRadixNode *SCRadixAddKey(uint8_t *key_stream, uint16_t key_bitlen,
      * the prefix */
     bottom_node = node;
 
+    DEBUG_VALIDATE_BUG_ON(bottom_node == NULL);
+    DEBUG_VALIDATE_BUG_ON(bottom_node->prefix == NULL);
+
     /* get the first bit position where the ips differ */
     check_bit = (node->bit < bitlen)? node->bit: bitlen;
     for (i = 0; (i * 8) < check_bit; i++) {