diff --git a/Parser.cpp b/Parser.cpp
index a542d9b70..4d5a50b3c 100644
--- a/Parser.cpp
+++ b/Parser.cpp
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@ ASTPointer<VariableDeclaration> Parser::parseVariableDeclaration(VarDeclParserOp
 	if (_options.allowEmptyName && m_scanner->getCurrentToken() != Token::IDENTIFIER)
 	{
 		identifier = make_shared<ASTString>("");
+		solAssert(!!type, "");
 		nodeFactory.setEndPositionFromNode(type);
 	}
 	else