diff --git a/gfx/layers/Layers.cpp b/gfx/layers/Layers.cpp
index df20ec233485..5463396cfddc 100644
--- a/gfx/layers/Layers.cpp
+++ b/gfx/layers/Layers.cpp
@@ -796,6 +796,8 @@ ContainerLayer::RepositionChild(Layer* aChild, Layer* aAfter)
                (aAfter->Manager() == Manager() &&
                 aAfter->GetParent() == this),
                "aAfter is not our child");
+  NS_ASSERTION(aChild != aAfter,
+               "aChild cannot be the same as aAfter");
 
   Layer* prev = aChild->GetPrevSibling();
   Layer* next = aChild->GetNextSibling();