diff --git a/media/base/media_channel.cc b/media/base/media_channel.cc
index 5d59dba5b5..1b11fcc4e8 100644
--- a/media/base/media_channel.cc
+++ b/media/base/media_channel.cc
@@ -89,6 +89,11 @@ bool MediaChannel::ExtmapAllowMixed() const {
   return extmap_allow_mixed_;
 }
 
+bool MediaChannel::HasNetworkInterface() const {
+  RTC_DCHECK_RUN_ON(network_thread_);
+  return network_interface_ != nullptr;
+}
+
 void MediaChannel::SetEncoderToPacketizerFrameTransformer(
     uint32_t ssrc,
     rtc::scoped_refptr<FrameTransformerInterface> frame_transformer) {}
diff --git a/media/base/media_channel.h b/media/base/media_channel.h
index 8f20616ebb..2b0ef81277 100644
--- a/media/base/media_channel.h
+++ b/media/base/media_channel.h
@@ -260,6 +260,10 @@ class MediaChannel {
   void SetExtmapAllowMixed(bool extmap_allow_mixed);
   bool ExtmapAllowMixed() const;
 
+  // Returns `true` if a non-null NetworkInterface pointer is held.
+  // Must be called on the network thread.
+  bool HasNetworkInterface() const;
+
   virtual webrtc::RtpParameters GetRtpSendParameters(uint32_t ssrc) const = 0;
   virtual webrtc::RTCError SetRtpSendParameters(
       uint32_t ssrc,
diff --git a/pc/channel.cc b/pc/channel.cc
index e969d4c399..95e702667d 100644
--- a/pc/channel.cc
+++ b/pc/channel.cc
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ void BaseChannel::Init_w(webrtc::RtpTransportInternal* rtp_transport) {
     SetRtpTransport(rtp_transport);
     // Both RTP and RTCP channels should be set, we can call SetInterface on
     // the media channel and it can set network options.
+    RTC_DCHECK(!media_channel_->HasNetworkInterface());
     media_channel_->SetInterface(this);
   });
 }
@@ -208,6 +209,7 @@ void BaseChannel::Deinit() {
     if (rtp_transport_) {
       DisconnectFromRtpTransport_n();
     }
+    RTC_DCHECK(!network_initialized());
   });
 }
 
@@ -797,6 +799,7 @@ bool BaseChannel::ClearHandledPayloadTypes() {
 
 void BaseChannel::SignalSentPacket_n(const rtc::SentPacket& sent_packet) {
   RTC_DCHECK_RUN_ON(network_thread());
+  RTC_DCHECK(network_initialized());
   media_channel()->OnPacketSent(sent_packet);
 }
 
diff --git a/pc/channel.h b/pc/channel.h
index 109e3491eb..6c2fa1d6e3 100644
--- a/pc/channel.h
+++ b/pc/channel.h
@@ -217,6 +217,10 @@ class BaseChannel : public ChannelInterface,
     return extensions_filter_;
   }
 
+  bool network_initialized() RTC_RUN_ON(network_thread()) {
+    return media_channel_->HasNetworkInterface();
+  }
+
   bool enabled() const RTC_RUN_ON(worker_thread()) { return enabled_; }
   rtc::Thread* signaling_thread() const { return signaling_thread_; }