diff --git a/gio/gsimpleaction.c b/gio/gsimpleaction.c
index d6cf423b2..8f448d62c 100644
--- a/gio/gsimpleaction.c
+++ b/gio/gsimpleaction.c
@@ -485,6 +485,8 @@ g_simple_action_new (const gchar        *name,
 {
   GSimpleAction *simple;
 
+  g_return_val_if_fail (name != NULL);
+
   simple = g_object_new (G_TYPE_SIMPLE_ACTION, NULL);
   simple->name = g_strdup (name);
 
@@ -520,6 +522,9 @@ g_simple_action_new_stateful (const gchar        *name,
 {
   GSimpleAction *simple;
 
+  g_return_val_if_fail (name != NULL);
+  g_return_val_if_fail (state != NULL);
+
   simple = g_object_new (G_TYPE_SIMPLE_ACTION, NULL);
   simple->name = g_strdup (name);