diff --git a/net/net.c b/net/net.c
index c1cd9c75f6..2afac24b79 100644
--- a/net/net.c
+++ b/net/net.c
@@ -1227,6 +1227,7 @@ RxFilterInfoList *qmp_query_rx_filter(bool has_name, const char *name,
         if (nc->info->type != NET_CLIENT_DRIVER_NIC) {
             if (has_name) {
                 error_setg(errp, "net client(%s) isn't a NIC", name);
+                assert(!filter_list);
                 return NULL;
             }
             continue;
@@ -1252,6 +1253,7 @@ RxFilterInfoList *qmp_query_rx_filter(bool has_name, const char *name,
         } else if (has_name) {
             error_setg(errp, "net client(%s) doesn't support"
                        " rx-filter querying", name);
+            assert(!filter_list);
             return NULL;
         }