diff --git a/m-dict.h b/m-dict.h
index 550db6ef..ba28a0e4 100644
--- a/m-dict.h
+++ b/m-dict.h
@@ -585,6 +585,7 @@
 #define DICTI_CONTRACT(name, map) do {                                  \
     assert(map != NULL);                                                \
     assert(map->used <= map->upper_limit);                              \
+    assert(map->upper_limit >= DICTI_UPPER_BOUND(DICTI_INITIAL_SIZE));  \
     assert(map->used >= map->lower_limit);                              \
     assert(M_POWEROF2_P(M_C(name, _array_list_pair_size)(map->table))); \
   } while (0)