diff --git a/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/network/rtl8169/debug.h b/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/network/rtl8169/debug.h
index 132d73f515..2d502a9664 100644
--- a/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/network/rtl8169/debug.h
+++ b/src/add-ons/kernel/drivers/network/rtl8169/debug.h
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
 	#define TRACE(a...) dprintf("rtl8169: " a)
+	#define ASSERT(a)	if (a) ; else panic("rtl8169: ASSERT failed, " #a)
 #else
 	#define TRACE(a...)
+	#define ASSERT(a...)
 #endif
 
 #define ERROR(a...) dprintf("rtl8169: ERROR " a)