diff --git a/src/amd/common/nir/ac_nir.c b/src/amd/common/nir/ac_nir.c
index 66c9be306b1..e629a1b1445 100644
--- a/src/amd/common/nir/ac_nir.c
+++ b/src/amd/common/nir/ac_nir.c
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ nir_def *
 ac_nir_load_arg_at_offset(nir_builder *b, const struct ac_shader_args *ac_args,
                           struct ac_arg arg, unsigned relative_index)
 {
+   assert(arg.used);
+
    unsigned arg_index = arg.arg_index + relative_index;
    unsigned num_components = ac_args->args[arg_index].size;