diff --git a/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/option/SubstrateOptionsParser.java b/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/option/SubstrateOptionsParser.java
index baaa69e0ec5..6247d2331dc 100644
--- a/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/option/SubstrateOptionsParser.java
+++ b/substratevm/src/com.oracle.svm.core/src/com/oracle/svm/core/option/SubstrateOptionsParser.java
@@ -195,7 +195,9 @@ public static String commandArgument(OptionKey<?> option, String value, String a
                     }
                 }
             }
-            return HOSTED_OPTION_PREFIX + value + option;
+            String optionString = HOSTED_OPTION_PREFIX + value + option;
+            assert apiOptionName == null : "The API option " + apiOptionName + " not found for " + optionString;
+            return optionString;
         } else {
             String apiOptionWithValue = null;
             for (APIOption apiOption : apiOptions) {