diff --git a/src/pdr.c b/src/pdr.c
index 285aae6..3c9db5d 100644
--- a/src/pdr.c
+++ b/src/pdr.c
@@ -699,7 +699,9 @@
 LIBPLDM_ABI_STABLE
 void pldm_entity_association_tree_destroy(pldm_entity_association_tree *tree)
 {
-	assert(tree != NULL);
+	if (!tree) {
+		return;
+	}
 
 	entity_association_tree_destroy(tree->root);
 	free(tree);