diff --git a/sys/net/network_layer/ng_sixlowpan/iphc/ng_sixlowpan_iphc.c b/sys/net/network_layer/ng_sixlowpan/iphc/ng_sixlowpan_iphc.c
index 0a07348553f9be9f835787503fcf7855575fcb9b..b43512b94ccc56e8723ee0caba8c4650fe2433d7 100644
--- a/sys/net/network_layer/ng_sixlowpan/iphc/ng_sixlowpan_iphc.c
+++ b/sys/net/network_layer/ng_sixlowpan/iphc/ng_sixlowpan_iphc.c
@@ -176,6 +176,9 @@ size_t ng_sixlowpan_iphc_decode(ng_pktsnip_t *ipv6, ng_pktsnip_t *pkt, size_t of
     }
 
     switch (iphc_hdr[IPHC2_IDX] & (NG_SIXLOWPAN_IPHC2_SAC | NG_SIXLOWPAN_IPHC2_SAM)) {
+        /* should be asserted by line 168 anyway */
+        assert(ctx != NULL);
+
         case IPHC_SAC_SAM_FULL:
             /* take full 128 from inline */
             memcpy(&(ipv6_hdr->src), iphc_hdr + payload_offset, 16);