diff --git a/scripts/qapi.py b/scripts/qapi.py
index 0635bbb0c3..68ee31903e 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi.py
@@ -1000,6 +1000,7 @@ def is_implicit(self):
         return self.name.startswith('q_')
 
     def c_name(self):
+        assert self.name != 'q_empty'
         return QAPISchemaType.c_name(self)
 
     def c_type(self):