diff --git a/hw/arm/armsse.c b/hw/arm/armsse.c
index 64fcab895f..dcbff9bd8f 100644
--- a/hw/arm/armsse.c
+++ b/hw/arm/armsse.c
@@ -452,6 +452,8 @@ static void armsse_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
+    assert(info->num_cpus <= SSE_MAX_CPUS);
+
     /* max SRAM_ADDR_WIDTH: 24 - log2(SRAM_NUM_BANK) */
     assert(is_power_of_2(info->sram_banks));
     addr_width_max = 24 - ctz32(info->sram_banks);