diff --git a/doc/xml/release.xml b/doc/xml/release.xml
index f49788941..cd038cf4c 100644
--- a/doc/xml/release.xml
+++ b/doc/xml/release.xml
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@
                     <release-item>
                         <p>Start work on C handle io object and use it to output help.</p>
                     </release-item>
+
+                    <release-item>
+                        <p>Add <code>ASSERT()</code> that is preserved in production builds.</p>
+                    </release-item>
                 </release-development-list>
             </release-core-list>
 
diff --git a/src/common/debug.h b/src/common/debug.h
index 1f8499dfb..fa36ffb4a 100644
--- a/src/common/debug.h
+++ b/src/common/debug.h
@@ -15,15 +15,21 @@ NDEBUG indicates to C library routines that debugging is off -- set a more reada
 
 /***********************************************************************************************************************************
 Assert Macros
-
-Used for assertions that should only be run when debugging.  Ideal for conditions that are not likely to happen in production but
-could occur during development.
 ***********************************************************************************************************************************/
+// For very important asserts that are shipped with the production code.
+#define ASSERT(condition)                                                                                                          \
+{                                                                                                                                  \
+    if (!(condition))                                                                                                              \
+        THROW(AssertError, "assertion '%s' failed", #condition);                                                                   \
+}
+
+// Used for assertions that should only be run when debugging.  Ideal for conditions that are not likely to happen in production but
+// could occur during development.
 #ifdef DEBUG
     #define ASSERT_DEBUG(condition)                                                                                                \
     {                                                                                                                              \
         if (!(condition))                                                                                                          \
-            THROW(AssertError, "assertion '%s' failed", #condition);                                                               \
+            THROW(AssertError, "debug assertion '%s' failed", #condition);                                                         \
     }
 #else
     #define ASSERT_DEBUG(condition)
diff --git a/test/lib/pgBackRestTest/Common/DefineTest.pm b/test/lib/pgBackRestTest/Common/DefineTest.pm
index 2d316bc01..bed50b1ef 100644
--- a/test/lib/pgBackRestTest/Common/DefineTest.pm
+++ b/test/lib/pgBackRestTest/Common/DefineTest.pm
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ my $oTestDef =
                 },
                 {
                     &TESTDEF_NAME => 'debug-on',
-                    &TESTDEF_TOTAL => 1,
+                    &TESTDEF_TOTAL => 2,
                     &TESTDEF_C => true,
 
                     &TESTDEF_COVERAGE =>
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ my $oTestDef =
                 },
                 {
                     &TESTDEF_NAME => 'debug-off',
-                    &TESTDEF_TOTAL => 1,
+                    &TESTDEF_TOTAL => 2,
                     &TESTDEF_C => true,
                     &TESTDEF_CDEF => '-DNDEBUG -DNO_LOG',
 
diff --git a/test/src/module/common/debugOffTest.c b/test/src/module/common/debugOffTest.c
index 99ddf08c7..44d13828e 100644
--- a/test/src/module/common/debugOffTest.c
+++ b/test/src/module/common/debugOffTest.c
@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@ Test Run
 void
 testRun()
 {
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    if (testBegin("ASSERT()"))
+    {
+        TEST_RESULT_VOID(ASSERT(true), "assert true");
+        TEST_ERROR(ASSERT(false || false), AssertError, "assertion 'false || false' failed");
+    }
+
     // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     if (testBegin("ASSERT_DEBUG()"))
     {
diff --git a/test/src/module/common/debugOnTest.c b/test/src/module/common/debugOnTest.c
index f2ca06c52..be91e115e 100644
--- a/test/src/module/common/debugOnTest.c
+++ b/test/src/module/common/debugOnTest.c
@@ -8,10 +8,17 @@ Test Run
 void
 testRun()
 {
+    // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    if (testBegin("ASSERT()"))
+    {
+        TEST_RESULT_VOID(ASSERT(true), "assert true");
+        TEST_ERROR(ASSERT(false || false), AssertError, "assertion 'false || false' failed");
+    }
+
     // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     if (testBegin("ASSERT_DEBUG()"))
     {
         TEST_RESULT_VOID(ASSERT_DEBUG(true), "assert true");
-        TEST_ERROR(ASSERT_DEBUG(false || false), AssertError, "assertion 'false || false' failed");
+        TEST_ERROR(ASSERT_DEBUG(false || false), AssertError, "debug assertion 'false || false' failed");
     }
 }