diff --git a/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/mat.hpp b/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/mat.hpp
index 5816c1f80f..8e36a44dbf 100644
--- a/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/mat.hpp
+++ b/modules/core/include/opencv2/core/mat.hpp
@@ -684,6 +684,8 @@ template<typename _Tp> inline void Mat::push_back(const _Tp& elem)
 {
     if( !data )
     {
+    	CV_Assert((type()==0) || (DataType<_Tp>::type == type()));
+
         *this = Mat(1, 1, DataType<_Tp>::type, (void*)&elem).clone();
         return;
     }