diff --git a/storage/maria/ha_maria.cc b/storage/maria/ha_maria.cc
index fd28164cb59..ce23e670c17 100644
--- a/storage/maria/ha_maria.cc
+++ b/storage/maria/ha_maria.cc
@@ -2789,7 +2789,7 @@ int ha_maria::delete_table(const char *name)
 
 void ha_maria::drop_table(const char *name)
 {
-  DBUG_ASSERT(file->s->temporary);
+  DBUG_ASSERT(!file || file->s->temporary);
   (void) ha_close();
   (void) maria_delete_table_files(name, 1, MY_WME);
 }