diff --git a/gio/gapplication.c b/gio/gapplication.c
index 472c3a5f4..aa963c499 100644
--- a/gio/gapplication.c
+++ b/gio/gapplication.c
@@ -1870,6 +1870,7 @@ void
 g_application_release (GApplication *application)
 {
   g_return_if_fail (G_IS_APPLICATION (application));
+  g_return_if_fail (application->priv->use_count > 0);
 
   application->priv->use_count--;