diff --git a/src/libs/utils/historycompleter.cpp b/src/libs/utils/historycompleter.cpp
index 17c96300757270e0ceb2cd009ec1ab42ba8a2977..327efbc96a6dda7f5e9b6c3c40376c41ce3bb5e9 100644
--- a/src/libs/utils/historycompleter.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/utils/historycompleter.cpp
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ void HistoryCompleterPrivate::clearHistory()
 
 void HistoryCompleterPrivate::addEntry(const QString &str)
 {
+    QTC_ASSERT(theSettings, return);
     const QString entry = str.trimmed();
     if (entry.isEmpty()) {
         isLastItemEmpty = true;