diff --git a/monitor/misc.c b/monitor/misc.c
index 3baa15f3bf..a74cff398d 100644
--- a/monitor/misc.c
+++ b/monitor/misc.c
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ int monitor_set_cpu(int cpu_index)
 /* Callers must hold BQL. */
 static CPUState *mon_get_cpu_sync(bool synchronize)
 {
-    CPUState *cpu;
+    CPUState *cpu = NULL;
 
     if (cur_mon->mon_cpu_path) {
         cpu = (CPUState *) object_resolve_path_type(cur_mon->mon_cpu_path,
@@ -411,6 +411,7 @@ static CPUState *mon_get_cpu_sync(bool synchronize)
         monitor_set_cpu(first_cpu->cpu_index);
         cpu = first_cpu;
     }
+    assert(cpu != NULL);
     if (synchronize) {
         cpu_synchronize_state(cpu);
     }