diff --git a/src/core/ipv4/dhcp.c b/src/core/ipv4/dhcp.c
index 1f16fd80..39df9a92 100644
--- a/src/core/ipv4/dhcp.c
+++ b/src/core/ipv4/dhcp.c
@@ -1616,7 +1616,7 @@ decode_next:
       offset_max -= q->len;
       if ((offset < offset_max) && offset_max) {
         q = q->next;
-        LWIP_ASSERT("next pbuf was null", q);
+        LWIP_ERROR("next pbuf was null", q != NULL, return ERR_VAL;);
         options = (u8_t*)q->payload;
       } else {
         /* We've run out of bytes, probably no end marker. Don't proceed. */