diff --git a/Xext/sync.c b/Xext/sync.c
index 1ed7e3ac41..6bdbc72d11 100644
--- a/Xext/sync.c
+++ b/Xext/sync.c
@@ -2424,8 +2424,7 @@ IdleTimeBlockHandler(void *pCounter, void *wt)
 {
     SyncCounter *counter = pCounter;
     IdleCounterPriv *priv = SysCounterGetPrivate(counter);
-    if (!priv)
-        return;
+    BUG_RETURN(priv == NULL);
     int64_t *less = priv->value_less;
     int64_t *greater = priv->value_greater;
     int64_t idle, old_idle;
@@ -2516,8 +2515,7 @@ IdleTimeWakeupHandler(void *pCounter, int rc)
 {
     SyncCounter *counter = pCounter;
     IdleCounterPriv *priv = SysCounterGetPrivate(counter);
-    if (!priv)
-        return;
+    BUG_RETURN(priv == NULL);
     int64_t *less = priv->value_less;
     int64_t *greater = priv->value_greater;
     int64_t idle;
@@ -2551,8 +2549,7 @@ IdleTimeBracketValues(void *pCounter, int64_t *pbracket_less,
 {
     SyncCounter *counter = pCounter;
     IdleCounterPriv *priv = SysCounterGetPrivate(counter);
-    if (!priv)
-        return;
+    BUG_RETURN(priv == NULL);
     int64_t *less = priv->value_less;
     int64_t *greater = priv->value_greater;
     Bool registered = (less || greater);