diff --git a/yoga/Yoga.cpp b/yoga/Yoga.cpp
index ca0b834b..a927ef55 100644
--- a/yoga/Yoga.cpp
+++ b/yoga/Yoga.cpp
@@ -370,6 +370,11 @@ void YGConfigCopy(const YGConfigRef dest, const YGConfigRef src) {
 }
 
 void YGNodeInsertChild(const YGNodeRef node, const YGNodeRef child, const uint32_t index) {
+  YGAssertWithNode(
+      node,
+      child->getOwner() == nullptr,
+      "Child already has a owner, it must be removed first.");
+
   YGAssertWithNode(
       node,
       node->getMeasure() == nullptr,