diff --git a/string-list.c b/string-list.c
index 53faaa8420..0cb920e9b0 100644
--- a/string-list.c
+++ b/string-list.c
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ int string_list_split(struct string_list *list, const char *string,
 	const char *p = string, *end;
 
 	if (!list->strdup_strings)
-		die("internal error in string_list_split(): "
+		BUG("internal error in string_list_split(): "
 		    "list->strdup_strings must be set");
 	for (;;) {
 		count++;
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ int string_list_split_in_place(struct string_list *list, char *string,
 	char *p = string, *end;
 
 	if (list->strdup_strings)
-		die("internal error in string_list_split_in_place(): "
+		BUG("internal error in string_list_split_in_place(): "
 		    "list->strdup_strings must not be set");
 	for (;;) {
 		count++;