diff --git a/src/processor/processor_imu.cpp b/src/processor/processor_imu.cpp
index 42361d86e834f8572fb08d6d6071d667e5f8d6a6..bf1fe72b6241c7b66dca58738d4fe168903c8773 100644
--- a/src/processor/processor_imu.cpp
+++ b/src/processor/processor_imu.cpp
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ FeatureBasePtr ProcessorImu::emplaceFeature(CaptureMotionPtr _capture_motion)
 
 VectorXd ProcessorImu::getCalibration (const CaptureBasePtr _capture) const
 {
+    assert(_capture && "called with a null capture");
+    assert(_capture->getSensorIntrinsic() && "null sensor intrinsics state block");
     return _capture->getSensorIntrinsic()->getState();
 }