diff --git a/flang/lib/Lower/OpenMP.cpp b/flang/lib/Lower/OpenMP.cpp
--- a/flang/lib/Lower/OpenMP.cpp
+++ b/flang/lib/Lower/OpenMP.cpp
@@ -1127,12 +1127,13 @@
 
   mlir::Value address = fir::getBase(converter.genExprAddr(
       *Fortran::semantics::GetExpr(assignmentStmtVariable), stmtCtx));
-  const Fortran::semantics::Symbol *updateSymbol;
+  const Fortran::semantics::Symbol *updateSymbol = nullptr;
   if (auto varDesignator = std::get_if<
           Fortran::common::Indirection<Fortran::parser::Designator>>(
           &assignmentStmtVariable.u)) {
     if (const auto *name = getDesignatorNameIfDataRef(varDesignator->value())) {
       updateSymbol = name->symbol;
+      assert(updateSymbol && "No symbol attached to atomic update variable");
     }
   }
   // If no hint clause is specified, the effect is as if