diff --git a/src/class_loader.cc b/src/class_loader.cc
index 9769136..8f8e829 100644
--- a/src/class_loader.cc
+++ b/src/class_loader.cc
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 Class* PathClassLoader::dalvik_system_PathClassLoader_ = NULL;
 
 const PathClassLoader* PathClassLoader::Alloc(std::vector<const DexFile*> dex_files) {
+  DCHECK(dalvik_system_PathClassLoader_ != NULL);
   PathClassLoader* p = down_cast<PathClassLoader*>(dalvik_system_PathClassLoader_->AllocObject());
   p->SetClassPath(dex_files);
   return p;