diff --git a/git-compat-util.h b/git-compat-util.h
index e123288e8f..d7f3407128 100644
--- a/git-compat-util.h
+++ b/git-compat-util.h
@@ -1460,6 +1460,8 @@ extern int bug_called_must_BUG;
 __attribute__((format (printf, 3, 4))) NORETURN
 void BUG_fl(const char *file, int line, const char *fmt, ...);
 #define BUG(...) BUG_fl(__FILE__, __LINE__, __VA_ARGS__)
+/* ASSERT: like assert(), but won't be compiled out with NDEBUG */
+#define ASSERT(a) if (!(a)) BUG("Assertion `" #a "' failed.")
 __attribute__((format (printf, 3, 4)))
 void bug_fl(const char *file, int line, const char *fmt, ...);
 #define bug(...) bug_fl(__FILE__, __LINE__, __VA_ARGS__)