diff --git a/wolfssl/test.h b/wolfssl/test.h
index 5be4aa171..43ddae1db 100644
--- a/wolfssl/test.h
+++ b/wolfssl/test.h
@@ -521,6 +521,9 @@ static INLINE void build_addr(SOCKADDR_IN_T* addr, const char* peer,
     (void)useLookup;
     (void)udp;
 
+    if (addr == NULL || peer == NULL)
+        err_sys("invalid arguments to build_addr, addr or peer is NULL");
+
     memset(addr, 0, sizeof(SOCKADDR_IN_T));
 
 #ifndef TEST_IPV6