diff --git a/sched/sched/sched_process_delivered.c b/sched/sched/sched_process_delivered.c
index fed04e51eadbd..bb90b0cf0eb4d 100644
--- a/sched/sched/sched_process_delivered.c
+++ b/sched/sched/sched_process_delivered.c
@@ -112,10 +112,11 @@ void nxsched_process_delivered(int cpu)
 
   btcb = g_delivertasks[cpu];
 
-  for (next = tcb;
-      (next && btcb->sched_priority <= next->sched_priority);
+  for (next = tcb; btcb->sched_priority <= next->sched_priority;
       next = next->flink);
 
+  DEBUGASSERT(next);
+
   prev = next->blink;
   if (prev == NULL)
     {