diff --git a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardDelegate.java b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardDelegate.java
index a47fcc247..a97cc2b83 100644
--- a/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardDelegate.java
+++ b/xwords4/android/XWords4/src/org/eehouse/android/xw4/BoardDelegate.java
@@ -2043,6 +2043,8 @@ public class BoardDelegate extends DelegateBase
                     m_view.startHandling( m_activity, m_jniThread, m_jniGamePtr, m_gi,
                                           m_connTypes );
                     if ( null != m_xport ) {
+                        // informMissing should have been called by now
+                        Assert.assertNotNull( m_connTypes );
                         m_xport.setReceiver( m_jniThread, m_handler );
                     }
                     m_jniThread.handle( JNICmd.CMD_START );