diff --git a/gio/gapplication.c b/gio/gapplication.c
index d505c8161..55e7f299c 100644
--- a/gio/gapplication.c
+++ b/gio/gapplication.c
@@ -2981,6 +2981,9 @@ g_application_get_is_busy (GApplication *application)
  * If @notification is no longer relevant, it can be withdrawn with
  * g_application_withdraw_notification().
  *
+ * It is an error to call this function if @application has no
+ * application ID.
+ *
  * Since: 2.40
  */
 void
@@ -2994,6 +2997,7 @@ g_application_send_notification (GApplication  *application,
   g_return_if_fail (G_IS_NOTIFICATION (notification));
   g_return_if_fail (g_application_get_is_registered (application));
   g_return_if_fail (!g_application_get_is_remote (application));
+  g_return_if_fail (g_application_get_application_id (application) != NULL);
 
   if (application->priv->notifications == NULL)
     application->priv->notifications = g_notification_backend_new_default (application);