diff --git a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
index 8f7f76841d3..baf8daee51a 100644
--- a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
@@ -1165,6 +1165,7 @@ UniValue getblockchaininfo(const JSONRPCRequest& request)
             + HelpExampleRpc("getblockchaininfo", "")
         );
 
+    assert(chainActive.Tip() && "An empty blockchain should not be possible here.");
     LOCK(cs_main);
 
     UniValue obj(UniValue::VOBJ);
@@ -1196,6 +1197,7 @@ UniValue getblockchaininfo(const JSONRPCRequest& request)
         while (block && block->pprev && (block->pprev->nStatus & BLOCK_HAVE_DATA))
             block = block->pprev;
 
+        assert(block && "An empty blockchain should not be possible here.");
         obj.push_back(Pair("pruneheight",        block->nHeight));
     }
     return obj;