diff --git a/test/cctest/node_test_fixture.h b/test/cctest/node_test_fixture.h
index 5fe1fa0b6fbf84..660111c5a90c6f 100644
--- a/test/cctest/node_test_fixture.h
+++ b/test/cctest/node_test_fixture.h
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ class NodeTestFixture : public ::testing::Test {
 
   virtual void SetUp() {
     isolate_ = v8::Isolate::New(params);
+    CHECK_NE(isolate_, nullptr);
   }
 
   virtual void TearDown() {