diff --git a/mlir/lib/ExecutionEngine/SparseTensorUtils.cpp b/mlir/lib/ExecutionEngine/SparseTensorUtils.cpp
--- a/mlir/lib/ExecutionEngine/SparseTensorUtils.cpp
+++ b/mlir/lib/ExecutionEngine/SparseTensorUtils.cpp
@@ -663,7 +663,8 @@
   // Open the file.
   FILE *file = fopen(filename, "r");
   if (!file) {
-    fprintf(stderr, "Cannot find %s\n", filename);
+    assert(filename && "Recieved nullptr for filename");
+    fprintf(stderr, "Cannot find file %s\n", filename);
     exit(1);
   }
   // Perform some file format dependent set up.