diff --git a/src/compiler/nir/nir_algebraic.py b/src/compiler/nir/nir_algebraic.py
index 5ead743c8c3..1f8e643cfb6 100644
--- a/src/compiler/nir/nir_algebraic.py
+++ b/src/compiler/nir/nir_algebraic.py
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ class SearchExpression(object):
       self.sources = expr[1:]
       self.ignore_exact = False
 
+      assert '{' not in self.opcode, \
+              'Malformed opcode name \"{}\".'.format(self.opcode)
+
    @staticmethod
    def create(val):
       if isinstance(val, tuple):