diff --git a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
index 8a07000fce3..f0753d18ae6 100644
--- a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
+++ b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
@@ -1251,7 +1251,7 @@ static int parse_argv(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                 arg_uid_range = UINT32_C(0x10000);
 
                         } else if (streq(optarg, "identity")) {
-                                /* identity: User namespaces on, UID range is map the 0…0xFFFF range to
+                                /* identity: User namespaces on, UID range is map of the 0…0xFFFF range to
                                  * itself, i.e. we don't actually map anything, but do take benefit of
                                  * isolation of capability sets. */
                                 arg_userns_mode = USER_NAMESPACE_FIXED;
@@ -3255,6 +3255,7 @@ static int chase_and_update(char **p, unsigned flags) {
 }
 
 static int determine_uid_shift(const char *directory) {
+        assert(directory);
 
         if (arg_userns_mode == USER_NAMESPACE_NO) {
                 arg_uid_shift = 0;