diff --git a/Net/src/SocketImpl.cpp b/Net/src/SocketImpl.cpp
index 10bf101d2..da11110ee 100644
--- a/Net/src/SocketImpl.cpp
+++ b/Net/src/SocketImpl.cpp
@@ -329,6 +329,8 @@ int SocketImpl::receiveFrom(void* buffer, int length, SocketAddress& address, in
 
 void SocketImpl::sendUrgent(unsigned char data)
 {
+	poco_assert (_sockfd != POCO_INVALID_SOCKET);
+	
 	int rc = ::send(_sockfd, reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&data), sizeof(data), MSG_OOB);
 	if (rc < 0) error();
 }
@@ -344,6 +346,8 @@ int SocketImpl::available()
 
 bool SocketImpl::poll(const Poco::Timespan& timeout, int mode)
 {
+	poco_assert (_sockfd != POCO_INVALID_SOCKET);
+	
 #if defined(POCO_HAVE_FD_POLL)
 
 	pollfd pollBuf;