diff --git a/src/crypto/crypto_common.cc b/src/crypto/crypto_common.cc
index 2234cb151afcf7..97895f7c118d64 100644
--- a/src/crypto/crypto_common.cc
+++ b/src/crypto/crypto_common.cc
@@ -1351,6 +1351,7 @@ MaybeLocal<Object> X509ToObject(
   Local<Object> info = Object::New(env->isolate());
 
   BIOPointer bio(BIO_new(BIO_s_mem()));
+  CHECK(bio);
 
   if (names_as_string) {
     // TODO(tniessen): this branch should not have to exist. It is only here