1 files changed, 3 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/src/H5Tvlen.c b/src/H5Tvlen.c
index 343f48b..b8a4a25 100644
--- a/src/H5Tvlen.c
+++ b/src/H5Tvlen.c
@@ -291,8 +291,9 @@ H5T_vlen_str_mem_getlen(H5F_t UNUSED *f, void *vl_addr)
     FUNC_ENTER_NOAPI(H5T_vlen_str_mem_getlen, FAIL);
 
     /* check parameters */
-    assert(s);
-
+    if (!s)
+        HGOTO_ERROR(H5E_ARGS, H5E_BADTYPE, FAIL, "null pointer");
+            
     /* Set return value */
     ret_value=(hssize_t)HDstrlen(s);