diff --git a/src/mod/applications/mod_commands/mod_commands.c b/src/mod/applications/mod_commands/mod_commands.c
index 64a97ad866..ef9d1bb880 100644
--- a/src/mod/applications/mod_commands/mod_commands.c
+++ b/src/mod/applications/mod_commands/mod_commands.c
@@ -5044,6 +5044,8 @@ SWITCH_STANDARD_API(originate_function)
 	cid_name = argv[i++];
 	cid_num = argv[i++];
 
+	switch_assert(exten);
+
 	if (!dp) {
 		dp = "XML";
 	}