diff --git a/runtime/src/message_processor.rs b/runtime/src/message_processor.rs
index 1e448123a4..93dc36f51c 100644
--- a/runtime/src/message_processor.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/message_processor.rs
@@ -507,6 +507,8 @@ impl MessageProcessor {
             &fee_calculator,
         );
         let compute_meter = invoke_context.get_compute_meter();
+
+        debug_assert_eq!(program_indices.len(), message.instructions.len());
         for (instruction_index, (instruction, program_indices)) in message
             .instructions
             .iter()