diff --git a/gdk/gdkcontentserializer.c b/gdk/gdkcontentserializer.c
index e033272ac5..1a6add92ec 100644
--- a/gdk/gdkcontentserializer.c
+++ b/gdk/gdkcontentserializer.c
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ static void
 file_text_serializer (GdkContentSerializer *serializer)
 {
   const GValue *value;
-  char *path;
+  char *path = NULL;
 
   value = gdk_content_serializer_get_value (serializer);
 
@@ -651,6 +651,8 @@ file_text_serializer (GdkContentSerializer *serializer)
       path = g_string_free (str, FALSE);
     }
 
+  g_assert (path != NULL);
+
   g_output_stream_write_all_async (gdk_content_serializer_get_output_stream (serializer),
                                    path,
                                    strlen (path),