diff --git a/src/journal/bsod.c b/src/journal/bsod.c
index 7c2bead389..aba21466af 100644
--- a/src/journal/bsod.c
+++ b/src/journal/bsod.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ static int acquire_first_emergency_log_message(char **ret) {
 static int find_next_free_vt(int fd, int *ret_free_vt, int *ret_original_vt) {
         struct vt_stat terminal_status;
 
-        assert(fd);
+        assert(fd >= 0);
         assert(ret_free_vt);
         assert(ret_original_vt);
 
diff --git a/src/shared/loop-util.c b/src/shared/loop-util.c
index cab8ef3e7a..d346d014d2 100644
--- a/src/shared/loop-util.c
+++ b/src/shared/loop-util.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ static int open_lock_fd(int primary_fd, int operation) {
 }
 
 static int loop_configure_verify_direct_io(int fd, const struct loop_config *c) {
-        assert(fd);
+        assert(fd >= 0);
         assert(c);
 
         if (FLAGS_SET(c->info.lo_flags, LO_FLAGS_DIRECT_IO)) {