diff --git a/kernel-src/fs/vfs.c b/kernel-src/fs/vfs.c
index 148acff6..6d8025fc 100644
--- a/kernel-src/fs/vfs.c
+++ b/kernel-src/fs/vfs.c
@@ -287,6 +287,7 @@ int vfs_lookup(vnode_t **result, vnode_t *start, char *path, char *lastcomp, int
 		}
 
 		if (islast && (flags & VFS_LOOKUP_PARENT)) {
+			__assert(lastcomp);
 			strcpy(lastcomp, component);
 			break;
 		}