diff --git a/base/include/hidl/HidlInternal.h b/base/include/hidl/HidlInternal.h
index 5a08bc3..ed9f02c 100644
--- a/base/include/hidl/HidlInternal.h
+++ b/base/include/hidl/HidlInternal.h
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
 struct hidl_pointer {
     hidl_pointer()
         : _pad(0) {
+        static_assert(sizeof(*this) == 8, "wrong size");
     }
     hidl_pointer(T* ptr) : hidl_pointer() { mPointer = ptr; }
     hidl_pointer(const hidl_pointer<T>& other) : hidl_pointer() { mPointer = other.mPointer; }