diff --git a/packages/flutter/lib/src/material/snack_bar.dart b/packages/flutter/lib/src/material/snack_bar.dart
index f2157110ff..db5b7ae5cf 100644
--- a/packages/flutter/lib/src/material/snack_bar.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter/lib/src/material/snack_bar.dart
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ class SnackBar extends StatelessWidget {
     this.duration = _kSnackBarDisplayDuration,
     this.animation,
   }) : assert(content != null),
+       assert(duration != null),
        super(key: key);
 
   /// The primary content of the snack bar.
diff --git a/packages/flutter/test/material/snack_bar_test.dart b/packages/flutter/test/material/snack_bar_test.dart
index 14042632c9..1ecbb2291a 100644
--- a/packages/flutter/test/material/snack_bar_test.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter/test/material/snack_bar_test.dart
@@ -662,4 +662,32 @@ void main() {
     expect(find.text('test'), findsNothing);
   });
 
+  testWidgets('Snackbar asserts if passed a null duration', (WidgetTester tester) async {
+    const Key tapTarget = Key('tap-target');
+    await tester.pumpWidget(MaterialApp(
+      home: Scaffold(
+        body: Builder(
+          builder: (BuildContext context) {
+            return GestureDetector(
+              onTap: () {
+                Scaffold.of(context).showSnackBar(SnackBar(
+                  content: Text(nonconst('hello')),
+                  duration: null,
+                ));
+              },
+              behavior: HitTestBehavior.opaque,
+              child: Container(
+                height: 100.0,
+                width: 100.0,
+                key: tapTarget
+              ),
+            );
+          },
+        ),
+      ),
+    ));
+
+    await tester.tap(find.byKey(tapTarget));
+    expect(tester.takeException(), isNotNull);
+  });
 }