diff --git a/src/drivers/infiniband/arbel.c b/src/drivers/infiniband/arbel.c
index ea65d8b8..98a2b601 100644
--- a/src/drivers/infiniband/arbel.c
+++ b/src/drivers/infiniband/arbel.c
@@ -1972,6 +1972,7 @@ static int arbel_map_vpm ( struct arbel *arbel,
 	assert ( ( va & ( ARBEL_PAGE_SIZE - 1 ) ) == 0 );
 	assert ( ( pa & ( ARBEL_PAGE_SIZE - 1 ) ) == 0 );
 	assert ( ( len & ( ARBEL_PAGE_SIZE - 1 ) ) == 0 );
+	assert ( len != 0 );
 
 	/* Calculate starting points */
 	start = pa;