diff --git a/gdb/ChangeLog b/gdb/ChangeLog
index 97dfee0cf7c..2181f35c80a 100644
--- a/gdb/ChangeLog
+++ b/gdb/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+2011-03-11  Michael Snyder  <msnyder@vmware.com>
+
+	* top.c (set_verbose): Assert showcmd was found.
+
 2011-03-11  Maxim Grigoriev  <maxim2405@gmail.com>
 
 	* xtensa-tdep.c (warning_once): Correct style issues.
diff --git a/gdb/top.c b/gdb/top.c
index df2b1633209..c453a71fada 100644
--- a/gdb/top.c
+++ b/gdb/top.c
@@ -1425,6 +1425,8 @@ set_verbose (char *args, int from_tty, struct cmd_list_element *c)
   struct cmd_list_element *showcmd;
 
   showcmd = lookup_cmd_1 (&cmdname, showlist, NULL, 1);
+  gdb_assert (showcmd != NULL
+	      && showcmd != (struct cmd_list_element *) -1);
 
   if (info_verbose)
     {