diff --git a/lib/bcoin/utils.js b/lib/bcoin/utils.js
index 4a35ad17..29d5cc7c 100644
--- a/lib/bcoin/utils.js
+++ b/lib/bcoin/utils.js
@@ -594,8 +594,16 @@ utils.merge = function merge(target) {
  * @param {String?} message - Optional error message.
  */
 
-utils.assert = function assert(value, message) {
-  return assert.ok(value, message);
+utils.assert = function _assert(value, message) {
+  if (!value) {
+    throw new assert.AssertionError({
+      message: message,
+      actual: value,
+      expected: true,
+      operator: '==',
+      stackStartFunction: _assert
+    });
+  }
 };
 
 utils.merge(utils.assert, assert);