diff --git a/React/Views/RCTModalHostView.m b/React/Views/RCTModalHostView.m
index dd16f9e6c..0322e02ca 100644
--- a/React/Views/RCTModalHostView.m
+++ b/React/Views/RCTModalHostView.m
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ RCT_NOT_IMPLEMENTED(-initWithCoder:coder)
   [super didMoveToSuperview];
 
   if (self.superview) {
+    RCTAssert(self.reactViewController, @"Can't present modal view controller without a presenting view controller");
     [self.reactViewController presentViewController:_modalViewController animated:self.animated completion:nil];
   } else {
     [_modalViewController dismissViewControllerAnimated:self.animated completion:nil];