diff --git a/controller_interface/include/semantic_components/semantic_component_command_interface.hpp b/controller_interface/include/semantic_components/semantic_component_command_interface.hpp
index 1c856ade42..b0ad156856 100644
--- a/controller_interface/include/semantic_components/semantic_component_command_interface.hpp
+++ b/controller_interface/include/semantic_components/semantic_component_command_interface.hpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ class SemanticComponentCommandInterface
     const std::string & name, const std::vector<std::string> & interface_names)
   : name_(name), interface_names_(interface_names)
   {
+    assert(interface_names.size() > 0);
     command_interfaces_.reserve(interface_names.size());
   }