diff --git a/common/settings/settings_manager.cpp b/common/settings/settings_manager.cpp
index e8c41c61ef..7eb71b65af 100644
--- a/common/settings/settings_manager.cpp
+++ b/common/settings/settings_manager.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  * This program source code file is part of KiCad, a free EDA CAD application.
  *
  * Copyright (C) 2020 Jon Evans <jon@craftyjon.com>
- * Copyright (C) 2020 KiCad Developers, see AUTHORS.txt for contributors.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021 KiCad Developers, see AUTHORS.txt for contributors.
  *
  * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it
  * under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
@@ -859,6 +859,7 @@ bool SETTINGS_MANAGER::UnloadProject( PROJECT* aProject, bool aSave )
 PROJECT& SETTINGS_MANAGER::Prj() const
 {
     // No MDI yet:  First project in the list is the active project
+    wxASSERT_MSG( m_projects.size(), "no project in list" );
     return *m_projects.begin()->second;
 }