diff --git a/include/boost/intrusive/detail/hook_traits.hpp b/include/boost/intrusive/detail/hook_traits.hpp
index 7a6f206..7f7dc27 100644
--- a/include/boost/intrusive/detail/hook_traits.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/intrusive/detail/hook_traits.hpp
@@ -57,26 +57,34 @@ struct bhtraits_base
 
    BOOST_INTRUSIVE_FORCEINLINE static pointer to_value_ptr(const node_ptr & n)
    {
-      return pointer_traits<pointer>::pointer_to
+      pointer p = pointer_traits<pointer>::pointer_to
          (static_cast<reference>(static_cast<node_holder_reference>(*n)));
+      BOOST_ASSERT(!!p);
+      return p;
    }
 
    BOOST_INTRUSIVE_FORCEINLINE static const_pointer to_value_ptr(const const_node_ptr & n)
    {
-      return pointer_traits<const_pointer>::pointer_to
+      const_pointer p = pointer_traits<const_pointer>::pointer_to
          (static_cast<const_reference>(static_cast<const_node_holder_reference>(*n)));
+      BOOST_ASSERT(!!p);
+      return p;
    }
 
    BOOST_INTRUSIVE_FORCEINLINE static node_ptr to_node_ptr(reference value)
    {
-      return pointer_traits<node_ptr>::pointer_to
+      node_ptr p = pointer_traits<node_ptr>::pointer_to
          (static_cast<node_reference>(static_cast<node_holder_reference>(value)));
+      BOOST_ASSERT(!!p);
+      return p;
    }
 
    BOOST_INTRUSIVE_FORCEINLINE static const_node_ptr to_node_ptr(const_reference value)
    {
-      return pointer_traits<const_node_ptr>::pointer_to
+      const_node_ptr p = pointer_traits<const_node_ptr>::pointer_to
          (static_cast<const_node_reference>(static_cast<const_node_holder_reference>(value)));
+      BOOST_ASSERT(!!p);
+      return p;
    }
 };