diff --git a/src/network/networkd-link.c b/src/network/networkd-link.c
index baa0756e6f..452fcd43c2 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-link.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-link.c
@@ -2152,6 +2152,8 @@ int link_save(Link *link) {
         }
 
         if (link->dhcp_lease) {
+                assert(link->network);
+
                 r = dhcp_lease_save(link->dhcp_lease, link->lease_file);
                 if (r < 0)
                         goto finish;