diff --git a/lib/std/mem.zig b/lib/std/mem.zig
index d458e26989..65d801a0aa 100644
--- a/lib/std/mem.zig
+++ b/lib/std/mem.zig
@@ -1602,6 +1602,7 @@ test containsAtLeast {
 /// T specifies the return type, which must be large enough to store
 /// the result.
 pub fn readVarInt(comptime ReturnType: type, bytes: []const u8, endian: Endian) ReturnType {
+    assert(@typeInfo(ReturnType).int.bits >= bytes.len * 8);
     const bits = @typeInfo(ReturnType).int.bits;
     const signedness = @typeInfo(ReturnType).int.signedness;
     const WorkType = std.meta.Int(signedness, @max(16, bits));