diff --git a/lib/dns/rdata/generic/tlsa_52.c b/lib/dns/rdata/generic/tlsa_52.c
index 1160aca897..079bcb1de8 100644
--- a/lib/dns/rdata/generic/tlsa_52.c
+++ b/lib/dns/rdata/generic/tlsa_52.c
@@ -207,12 +207,13 @@ generic_tostruct_tlsa(ARGS_TOSTRUCT) {
 	dns_rdata_tlsa_t *tlsa = target;
 	isc_region_t region;
 
-	REQUIRE(target != NULL);
+	REQUIRE(rdata != NULL);
 	REQUIRE(rdata->length != 0);
 
-	tlsa->common.rdclass = rdata->rdclass;
-	tlsa->common.rdtype = rdata->type;
-	ISC_LINK_INIT(&tlsa->common, link);
+	REQUIRE(tlsa != NULL);
+	REQUIRE(tlsa->common.rdclass == rdata->rdclass);
+	REQUIRE(tlsa->common.rdtype == rdata->type);
+	REQUIRE(!ISC_LINK_LINKED(&tlsa->common, link));
 
 	dns_rdata_toregion(rdata, &region);