diff --git a/tools/lvconvert.c b/tools/lvconvert.c
index d420eb52f..780a81567 100644
--- a/tools/lvconvert.c
+++ b/tools/lvconvert.c
@@ -1825,6 +1825,11 @@ static int _lvconvert_splitsnapshot(struct cmd_context *cmd, struct logical_volu
 	struct volume_group *vg = cow->vg;
 	const char *cow_name = display_lvname(cow);
 
+	if (!lv_is_cow(cow)) {
+		log_error(INTERNAL_ERROR "Volume %s is not a COW.", cow_name);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	if (lv_is_virtual_origin(origin_from_cow(cow))) {
 		log_error("Unable to split off snapshot %s with virtual origin.", cow_name);
 		return 0;