diff --git a/src/system/SystemPacketBuffer.cpp b/src/system/SystemPacketBuffer.cpp
index 3f6c136bcb152b..c4e1245cba7613 100644
--- a/src/system/SystemPacketBuffer.cpp
+++ b/src/system/SystemPacketBuffer.cpp
@@ -431,6 +431,7 @@ void PacketBuffer::AddRef()
     pbuf_ref(this);
 #else  // !CHIP_SYSTEM_CONFIG_USE_LWIP
     LOCK_BUF_POOL();
+    assert(this->ref < UINT16_MAX);
     ++this->ref;
     UNLOCK_BUF_POOL();
 #endif // !CHIP_SYSTEM_CONFIG_USE_LWIP