diff --git a/dune/fufem/functions/basisgridfunction.hh b/dune/fufem/functions/basisgridfunction.hh
index 116b46aa22aee095fd179c3acd963f9be5db55ef..4caa556124de9ba7e0abc9e12c9fcd04dfbbc210 100644
--- a/dune/fufem/functions/basisgridfunction.hh
+++ b/dune/fufem/functions/basisgridfunction.hh
@@ -217,7 +217,9 @@ class BasisGridFunction :
             BaseType(basis.getGridView()),
             basis_(basis),
             coefficients_(coefficients)
-        {}
+        {
+          assert(basis_.size() == coefficients_.size());
+        }