diff --git a/libutils/Threads.cpp b/libutils/Threads.cpp
index 6dda6b5..def739f 100644
--- a/libutils/Threads.cpp
+++ b/libutils/Threads.cpp
@@ -668,6 +668,8 @@
 
 status_t Thread::run(const char* name, int32_t priority, size_t stack)
 {
+    LOG_ALWAYS_FATAL_IF(name == nullptr, "thread name not provided to Thread::run");
+
     Mutex::Autolock _l(mLock);
 
     if (mRunning) {