diff --git a/collectors/freeipmi.plugin/freeipmi_plugin.c b/collectors/freeipmi.plugin/freeipmi_plugin.c
index 74274ea215..bd3c533cad 100644
--- a/collectors/freeipmi.plugin/freeipmi_plugin.c
+++ b/collectors/freeipmi.plugin/freeipmi_plugin.c
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ char *sel_config_file = NULL;
 static void
 _init_ipmi_config (struct ipmi_monitoring_ipmi_config *ipmi_config)
 {
-    assert (ipmi_config);
+    fatal_assert(ipmi_config);
 
     ipmi_config->driver_type = driver_type;
     ipmi_config->disable_auto_probe = disable_auto_probe;
@@ -1580,7 +1580,7 @@ int ipmi_detect_speed_secs(struct ipmi_monitoring_ipmi_config *ipmi_config) {
 
 int parse_inband_driver_type (const char *str)
 {
-    assert (str);
+    fatal_assert(str);
 
     if (strcasecmp (str, IPMI_PARSE_DEVICE_KCS_STR) == 0)
         return (IPMI_MONITORING_DRIVER_TYPE_KCS);
@@ -1604,7 +1604,7 @@ int parse_inband_driver_type (const char *str)
 
 int parse_outofband_driver_type (const char *str)
 {
-    assert (str);
+    fatal_assert(str);
 
     if (strcasecmp (str, IPMI_PARSE_DEVICE_LAN_STR) == 0)
         return (IPMI_MONITORING_PROTOCOL_VERSION_1_5);
diff --git a/daemon/commands.c b/daemon/commands.c
index 1944b6c370..57d39007e5 100644
--- a/daemon/commands.c
+++ b/daemon/commands.c
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ static void parse_commands(struct command_context *cmd_ctx)
             cmd_ctx->args = lstrip;
             cmd_ctx->message = NULL;
 
-            assert(0 == uv_queue_work(loop, &cmd_ctx->work, schedule_command, after_schedule_command));
+            fatal_assert(0 == uv_queue_work(loop, &cmd_ctx->work, schedule_command, after_schedule_command));
             break;
         }
     }
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ static void connection_cb(uv_stream_t *server, int status)
     int ret;
     uv_pipe_t *client;
     struct command_context *cmd_ctx;
-    assert(status == 0);
+    fatal_assert(status == 0);
 
     /* combined allocation of client pipe and command context */
     cmd_ctx = mallocz(sizeof(*cmd_ctx));
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ static void command_thread(void *arg)
     uv_run(loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT); /* flush all libuv handles */
 
     info("Shutting down command loop complete.");
-    assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
     freez(loop);
 
     return;
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ error_after_pipe_init:
     uv_close((uv_handle_t *)&async, NULL);
 error_after_async_init:
     uv_run(loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT); /* flush all libuv handles */
-    assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
 error_after_loop_init:
     freez(loop);
 
@@ -673,9 +673,9 @@ void commands_init(void)
 
     info("Initializing command server.");
     for (i = 0 ; i < CMD_TOTAL_COMMANDS ; ++i) {
-        assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&command_lock_array[i]));
+        fatal_assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&command_lock_array[i]));
     }
-    assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&exclusive_rwlock));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&exclusive_rwlock));
 
     init_completion(&completion);
     error = uv_thread_create(&thread, command_thread, NULL);
@@ -713,8 +713,8 @@ void commands_exit(void)
     command_thread_shutdown = 1;
     info("Shutting down command server.");
     /* wake up event loop */
-    assert(0 == uv_async_send(&async));
-    assert(0 == uv_thread_join(&thread));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_async_send(&async));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_thread_join(&thread));
 
     for (i = 0 ; i < CMD_TOTAL_COMMANDS ; ++i) {
         uv_mutex_destroy(&command_lock_array[i]);
diff --git a/database/engine/datafile.c b/database/engine/datafile.c
index 8ef4ed5990..01f6863d55 100644
--- a/database/engine/datafile.c
+++ b/database/engine/datafile.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ void datafile_list_delete(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrdengine_dataf
     struct rrdengine_datafile *next;
 
     next = datafile->next;
-    assert((NULL != next) && (ctx->datafiles.first == datafile) && (ctx->datafiles.last != datafile));
+    fatal_assert((NULL != next) && (ctx->datafiles.first == datafile) && (ctx->datafiles.last != datafile));
     ctx->datafiles.first = next;
 }
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ void datafile_list_delete(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrdengine_dataf
 static void datafile_init(struct rrdengine_datafile *datafile, struct rrdengine_instance *ctx,
                           unsigned tier, unsigned fileno)
 {
-    assert(tier == 1);
+    fatal_assert(tier == 1);
     datafile->tier = tier;
     datafile->fileno = fileno;
     datafile->file = (uv_file)0;
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ int create_data_file(struct rrdengine_datafile *datafile)
 
     ret = uv_fs_write(NULL, &req, file, &iov, 1, 0, NULL);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        assert(req.result < 0);
+        fatal_assert(req.result < 0);
         error("uv_fs_write: %s", uv_strerror(ret));
         ++ctx->stats.io_errors;
         rrd_stat_atomic_add(&global_io_errors, 1);
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ static int check_data_file_superblock(uv_file file)
         uv_fs_req_cleanup(&req);
         goto error;
     }
-    assert(req.result >= 0);
+    fatal_assert(req.result >= 0);
     uv_fs_req_cleanup(&req);
 
     if (strncmp(superblock->magic_number, RRDENG_DF_MAGIC, RRDENG_MAGIC_SZ) ||
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ static int scan_data_files(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx)
 
     ret = uv_fs_scandir(NULL, &req, ctx->dbfiles_path, 0, NULL);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        assert(req.result < 0);
+        fatal_assert(req.result < 0);
         uv_fs_req_cleanup(&req);
         error("uv_fs_scandir(%s): %s", ctx->dbfiles_path, uv_strerror(ret));
         ++ctx->stats.fs_errors;
diff --git a/database/engine/global_uuid_map/global_uuid_map.c b/database/engine/global_uuid_map/global_uuid_map.c
index 340a353528..f55ea5d7ad 100644
--- a/database/engine/global_uuid_map/global_uuid_map.c
+++ b/database/engine/global_uuid_map/global_uuid_map.c
@@ -254,9 +254,9 @@ void init_global_guid_map()
 
     init = 1;
     info("Configuring locking mechanism for global GUID map");
-    assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&guid_lock));
-    assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&object_lock));
-    assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&global_lock));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&guid_lock));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&object_lock));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&global_lock));
 
 //    int rc = guid_bulk_load("6fc56a64-05d7-47a7-bc82-7f3235d8cbda","d6b37186-74db-11ea-88b2-0bf5095b1f9e/cgroup_qemu_ubuntu18.04.cpu_per_core/cpu3");
 //    rc = guid_bulk_load("75c6fa02-97cc-40c1-aacd-a0132190472e","d6b37186-74db-11ea-88b2-0bf5095b1f9e/services.throttle_io_ops_write/system.slice_setvtrgb.service");
diff --git a/database/engine/journalfile.c b/database/engine/journalfile.c
index fac680aa0e..97109ec969 100644
--- a/database/engine/journalfile.c
+++ b/database/engine/journalfile.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ void wal_flush_transaction_buffer(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc)
     io_descr->iov = uv_buf_init((void *)io_descr->buf, size);
     ret = uv_fs_write(wc->loop, &io_descr->req, journalfile->file, &io_descr->iov, 1,
                       journalfile->pos, flush_transaction_buffer_cb);
-    assert (-1 != ret);
+    fatal_assert(-1 != ret);
     journalfile->pos += RRDENG_BLOCK_SIZE;
     ctx->disk_space += RRDENG_BLOCK_SIZE;
     ctx->commit_log.buf = NULL;
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ void * wal_get_transaction_buffer(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc, unsigned s
     int ret;
     unsigned buf_pos, buf_size;
 
-    assert(size);
+    fatal_assert(size);
     if (ctx->commit_log.buf) {
         unsigned remaining;
 
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ int create_journal_file(struct rrdengine_journalfile *journalfile, struct rrdeng
 
     ret = uv_fs_write(NULL, &req, file, &iov, 1, 0, NULL);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        assert(req.result < 0);
+        fatal_assert(req.result < 0);
         error("uv_fs_write: %s", uv_strerror(ret));
         ++ctx->stats.io_errors;
         rrd_stat_atomic_add(&global_io_errors, 1);
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ static int check_journal_file_superblock(uv_file file)
         uv_fs_req_cleanup(&req);
         goto error;
     }
-    assert(req.result >= 0);
+    fatal_assert(req.result >= 0);
     uv_fs_req_cleanup(&req);
 
     if (strncmp(superblock->magic_number, RRDENG_JF_MAGIC, RRDENG_MAGIC_SZ) ||
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ static void restore_extent_metadata(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrden
             /* First time we see the UUID */
             uv_rwlock_wrlock(&pg_cache->metrics_index.lock);
             PValue = JudyHSIns(&pg_cache->metrics_index.JudyHS_array, temp_id, sizeof(uuid_t), PJE0);
-            assert(NULL == *PValue); /* TODO: figure out concurrency model */
+            fatal_assert(NULL == *PValue); /* TODO: figure out concurrency model */
             *PValue = page_index = create_page_index(temp_id);
             page_index->prev = pg_cache->metrics_index.last_page_index;
             pg_cache->metrics_index.last_page_index = page_index;
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ static uint64_t iterate_transactions(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrde
             fatal("uv_fs_read: %s", uv_strerror(ret));
             /*uv_fs_req_cleanup(&req);*/
         }
-        assert(req.result >= 0);
+        fatal_assert(req.result >= 0);
         uv_fs_req_cleanup(&req);
         ctx->stats.io_read_bytes += size_bytes;
         ++ctx->stats.io_read_requests;
diff --git a/database/engine/metadata_log/compaction.c b/database/engine/metadata_log/compaction.c
index 9113fdd940..951cebdc04 100644
--- a/database/engine/metadata_log/compaction.c
+++ b/database/engine/metadata_log/compaction.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ static void compact_record_by_uuid(struct metalog_instance *ctx, uuid_t *uuid)
     ret = find_object_by_guid(uuid, NULL, 0);
     switch (ret) {
         case GUID_TYPE_CHAR:
-            assert(0);
+            fatal_assert(0);
             break;
         case GUID_TYPE_CHART:
             st = metalog_get_chart_from_uuid(ctx, uuid);
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ static void compact_record_by_uuid(struct metalog_instance *ctx, uuid_t *uuid)
             debug(D_METADATALOG, "Ignoring nonexistent metadata record.");
             break;
         default:
-            assert(0);
+            fatal_assert(0);
             break;
     }
 }
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ static void compact_old_records(void *arg)
             break;
         }
     }
-    assert(nextmetalogfile); /* There are always more than 1 metadata log files during compaction */
+    fatal_assert(nextmetalogfile); /* There are always more than 1 metadata log files during compaction */
 
     newmetalogfile = compaction_state->new_metadata_logfiles.last;
     if (newmetalogfile->starting_fileno != 0) { /* Must rename the last compacted file */
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ static void compact_old_records(void *arg)
 
     wc->cleanup_thread_compacting_files = 1;
     /* wake up event loop */
-    assert(0 == uv_async_send(&wc->async));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_async_send(&wc->async));
 }
 
 /* Returns 0 on success. */
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ static int init_compaction_state(struct metalog_instance *ctx)
         return ret;
     }
     newmetalogfile = compaction_state->new_metadata_logfiles.first;
-    assert(newmetalogfile == compaction_state->new_metadata_logfiles.last);
+    fatal_assert(newmetalogfile == compaction_state->new_metadata_logfiles.last);
     init_metadata_record_log(&compaction_state->records_log);
 
     return 0;
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ int compaction_failure_recovery(struct metalog_instance *ctx, struct metadata_lo
 
     for (j = 0, recovered_files = 0 ; j < i ; ++j) {
         metalogfile = metalogfiles[j];
-        assert(0 == metalogfile->starting_fileno);
+        fatal_assert(0 == metalogfile->starting_fileno);
         if (metalogfile->fileno < starting_fileno) {
             tmp_metalogfiles[recovered_files++] = metalogfile;
             continue;
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ int compaction_failure_recovery(struct metalog_instance *ctx, struct metadata_lo
 
     for ( ; j < i ; ++j) { /* continue iterating through normal metadata log files */
         metalogfile = metalogfiles[j];
-        assert(0 == metalogfile->starting_fileno);
+        fatal_assert(0 == metalogfile->starting_fileno);
         if (metalogfile->fileno < fileno) { /* It has already been compacted */
             error("Deleting invalid metadata log file \"%s/"METALOG_PREFIX METALOG_FILE_NUMBER_PRINT_TMPL
                       METALOG_EXTENSION"\"", dbfiles_path, 0U, metalogfile->fileno);
diff --git a/database/engine/metadata_log/logfile.c b/database/engine/metadata_log/logfile.c
index 9ae2866298..117c5e5eee 100644
--- a/database/engine/metadata_log/logfile.c
+++ b/database/engine/metadata_log/logfile.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ void mlf_flush_records_buffer(struct metalog_worker_config *wc, struct metadata_
     io_descr->iov = uv_buf_init((void *)io_descr->buf, size);
     ret = uv_fs_write(wc->loop, &io_descr->req, metalogfile->file, &io_descr->iov, 1,
                       metalogfile->pos, flush_records_buffer_cb);
-    assert (-1 != ret);
+    fatal_assert(-1 != ret);
     metalogfile->pos += size;
     rrd_atomic_fetch_add(&ctx->disk_space, size);
     records_log->buf = NULL;
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ void *mlf_get_records_buffer(struct metalog_worker_config *wc, struct metadata_r
     int ret;
     unsigned buf_pos, buf_size;
 
-    assert(size);
+    fatal_assert(size);
     if (records_log->buf) {
         unsigned remaining;
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ void metadata_logfile_list_delete(struct metadata_logfile_list *metadata_logfile
     struct metadata_logfile *next;
 
     next = metalogfile->next;
-    assert((NULL != next) && (metadata_logfiles->first == metalogfile) &&
+    fatal_assert((NULL != next) && (metadata_logfiles->first == metalogfile) &&
            (metadata_logfiles->last != metalogfile));
     metadata_logfiles->first = next;
 }
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ int create_metadata_logfile(struct metadata_logfile *metalogfile)
 
     ret = uv_fs_write(NULL, &req, file, &iov, 1, 0, NULL);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        assert(req.result < 0);
+        fatal_assert(req.result < 0);
         error("uv_fs_write: %s", uv_strerror(ret));
         ++ctx->stats.io_errors;
         rrd_stat_atomic_add(&global_io_errors, 1);
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ static int check_metadata_logfile_superblock(uv_file file)
         uv_fs_req_cleanup(&req);
         goto error;
     }
-    assert(req.result >= 0);
+    fatal_assert(req.result >= 0);
     uv_fs_req_cleanup(&req);
 
     if (strncmp(superblock->magic_number, RRDENG_METALOG_MAGIC, RRDENG_MAGIC_SZ)) {
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ static int scan_metalog_files(struct metalog_instance *ctx)
 
     ret = uv_fs_scandir(NULL, &req, dbfiles_path, 0, NULL);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        assert(req.result < 0);
+        fatal_assert(req.result < 0);
         uv_fs_req_cleanup(&req);
         error("uv_fs_scandir(%s): %s", dbfiles_path, uv_strerror(ret));
         ++ctx->stats.fs_errors;
diff --git a/database/engine/metadata_log/metadatalog.c b/database/engine/metadata_log/metadatalog.c
index b068f85c6a..6ebc2185ea 100644
--- a/database/engine/metadata_log/metadatalog.c
+++ b/database/engine/metadata_log/metadatalog.c
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ void metalog_commit_record(struct metalog_instance *ctx, BUFFER *buffer, enum me
 {
     struct metalog_cmd cmd;
 
-    assert(buffer_strlen(buffer));
-    assert(opcode == METALOG_COMMIT_CREATION_RECORD || opcode == METALOG_COMMIT_DELETION_RECORD);
+    fatal_assert(buffer_strlen(buffer));
+    fatal_assert(opcode == METALOG_COMMIT_CREATION_RECORD || opcode == METALOG_COMMIT_DELETION_RECORD);
 
     cmd.opcode = opcode;
     cmd.record_io_descr.buffer = buffer;
@@ -191,8 +191,8 @@ static void metalog_init_cmd_queue(struct metalog_worker_config *wc)
 {
     wc->cmd_queue.head = wc->cmd_queue.tail = 0;
     wc->queue_size = 0;
-    assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&wc->cmd_cond));
-    assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&wc->cmd_mutex));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&wc->cmd_cond));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&wc->cmd_mutex));
 }
 
 void metalog_enq_cmd(struct metalog_worker_config *wc, struct metalog_cmd *cmd)
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ void metalog_enq_cmd(struct metalog_worker_config *wc, struct metalog_cmd *cmd)
     while ((queue_size = wc->queue_size) == METALOG_CMD_Q_MAX_SIZE) {
         uv_cond_wait(&wc->cmd_cond, &wc->cmd_mutex);
     }
-    assert(queue_size < METALOG_CMD_Q_MAX_SIZE);
+    fatal_assert(queue_size < METALOG_CMD_Q_MAX_SIZE);
     /* enqueue command */
     wc->cmd_queue.cmd_array[wc->cmd_queue.tail] = *cmd;
     wc->cmd_queue.tail = wc->cmd_queue.tail != METALOG_CMD_Q_MAX_SIZE - 1 ?
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ void metalog_enq_cmd(struct metalog_worker_config *wc, struct metalog_cmd *cmd)
     uv_mutex_unlock(&wc->cmd_mutex);
 
     /* wake up event loop */
-    assert(0 == uv_async_send(&wc->async));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_async_send(&wc->async));
 }
 
 struct metalog_cmd metalog_deq_cmd(struct metalog_worker_config *wc)
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ void metalog_worker(void* arg)
     /* wake up initialization thread */
     complete(&ctx->metalog_completion);
 
-    assert(0 == uv_timer_start(&timer_req, timer_cb, TIMER_PERIOD_MS, TIMER_PERIOD_MS));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_timer_start(&timer_req, timer_cb, TIMER_PERIOD_MS, TIMER_PERIOD_MS));
     shutdown = 0;
     while (likely(shutdown == 0 || metalog_threads_alive(wc))) {
         uv_run(loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ void metalog_worker(void* arg)
                 break;
             case METALOG_QUIESCE:
                 ctx->quiesce = SET_QUIESCE;
-                assert(0 == uv_timer_stop(&timer_req));
+                fatal_assert(0 == uv_timer_stop(&timer_req));
                 uv_close((uv_handle_t *)&timer_req, NULL);
                 mlf_flush_records_buffer(wc, &ctx->records_log, &ctx->metadata_logfiles);
                 if (!metalog_threads_alive(wc)) {
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ void metalog_worker(void* arg)
     /* TODO: don't let the API block by waiting to enqueue commands */
     uv_cond_destroy(&wc->cmd_cond);
 /*  uv_mutex_destroy(&wc->cmd_mutex); */
-    assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
     freez(loop);
 
     return;
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ void metalog_worker(void* arg)
 error_after_timer_init:
     uv_close((uv_handle_t *)&wc->async, NULL);
 error_after_async_init:
-    assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
 error_after_loop_init:
     freez(loop);
 
diff --git a/database/engine/metadata_log/metadatalogapi.c b/database/engine/metadata_log/metadatalogapi.c
index 6bd09b4d9e..e8a5d27442 100755
--- a/database/engine/metadata_log/metadatalogapi.c
+++ b/database/engine/metadata_log/metadatalogapi.c
@@ -273,16 +273,16 @@ RRDSET *metalog_get_chart_from_uuid(struct metalog_instance *ctx, uuid_t *chart_
     uuid_t *machine_guid, *chart_char_guid;
 
     ret = find_object_by_guid(chart_uuid, chart_object, 33);
-    assert(GUID_TYPE_CHART == ret);
+    fatal_assert(GUID_TYPE_CHART == ret);
 
     machine_guid = (uuid_t *)chart_object;
     RRDHOST *host = ctx->rrdeng_ctx->host;
-    assert(!uuid_compare(host->host_uuid, *machine_guid));
+    fatal_assert(!uuid_compare(host->host_uuid, *machine_guid));
 
     chart_char_guid = (uuid_t *)(chart_object + 16);
 
     ret = find_object_by_guid(chart_char_guid, chart_fullid, RRD_ID_LENGTH_MAX + 1);
-    assert(GUID_TYPE_CHAR == ret);
+    fatal_assert(GUID_TYPE_CHAR == ret);
     RRDSET *st = rrdset_find(host, chart_fullid);
 
     return st;
@@ -300,22 +300,22 @@ RRDDIM *metalog_get_dimension_from_uuid(struct metalog_instance *ctx, uuid_t *me
 
     machine_guid = (uuid_t *)dim_object;
     RRDHOST *host = ctx->rrdeng_ctx->host;
-    assert(!uuid_compare(host->host_uuid, *machine_guid));
+    fatal_assert(!uuid_compare(host->host_uuid, *machine_guid));
 
     chart_guid = (uuid_t *)(dim_object + 16);
     dim_char_guid = (uuid_t *)(dim_object + 16 + 16);
 
     ret = find_object_by_guid(dim_char_guid, id_str, sizeof(id_str));
-    assert(GUID_TYPE_CHAR == ret);
+    fatal_assert(GUID_TYPE_CHAR == ret);
 
     ret = find_object_by_guid(chart_guid, chart_object, sizeof(chart_object));
-    assert(GUID_TYPE_CHART == ret);
+    fatal_assert(GUID_TYPE_CHART == ret);
     chart_char_guid = (uuid_t *)(chart_object + 16);
 
     ret = find_object_by_guid(chart_char_guid, chart_fullid, RRD_ID_LENGTH_MAX + 1);
-    assert(GUID_TYPE_CHAR == ret);
+    fatal_assert(GUID_TYPE_CHAR == ret);
     RRDSET *st = rrdset_find(host, chart_fullid);
-    assert(st);
+    fatal_assert(st);
 
     RRDDIM *rd = rrddim_find(st, id_str);
 
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ int metalog_init(struct rrdengine_instance *rrdeng_parent_ctx)
     }
 
     init_completion(&ctx->metalog_completion);
-    assert(0 == uv_thread_create(&ctx->worker_config.thread, metalog_worker, &ctx->worker_config));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_thread_create(&ctx->worker_config.thread, metalog_worker, &ctx->worker_config));
     /* wait for worker thread to initialize */
     wait_for_completion(&ctx->metalog_completion);
     destroy_completion(&ctx->metalog_completion);
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ int metalog_exit(struct metalog_instance *ctx)
     cmd.opcode = METALOG_SHUTDOWN;
     metalog_enq_cmd(&ctx->worker_config, &cmd);
 
-    assert(0 == uv_thread_join(&ctx->worker_config.thread));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_thread_join(&ctx->worker_config.thread));
 
     finalize_metalog_files(ctx);
     freez(ctx);
diff --git a/database/engine/metadata_log/metalogpluginsd.c b/database/engine/metadata_log/metalogpluginsd.c
index 23027af7b2..da7e19377f 100755
--- a/database/engine/metadata_log/metalogpluginsd.c
+++ b/database/engine/metadata_log/metalogpluginsd.c
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ PARSER_RC metalog_pluginsd_context_action(void *user, uuid_t *uuid)
     ret = find_object_by_guid(uuid, object, 49);
     switch (ret) {
     case GUID_TYPE_CHAR:
-        assert(0);
+        fatal_assert(0);
         break;
     case GUID_TYPE_CHART:
     case GUID_TYPE_DIMENSION:
@@ -127,22 +127,22 @@ PARSER_RC metalog_pluginsd_context_action(void *user, uuid_t *uuid)
             chart_char_guid = (uuid_t *)(object + 16);
 
             ret = find_object_by_guid(chart_char_guid, id_str, RRD_ID_LENGTH_MAX + 1);
-            assert(GUID_TYPE_CHAR == ret);
+            fatal_assert(GUID_TYPE_CHAR == ret);
             ((PARSER_USER_OBJECT *) user)->st = rrdset_find(host, id_str);
             break;
         case GUID_TYPE_DIMENSION:
             chart_guid = (uuid_t *)(object + 16);
 
             ret = find_object_by_guid(chart_guid, chart_object, 33);
-            assert(GUID_TYPE_CHART == ret);
+            fatal_assert(GUID_TYPE_CHART == ret);
             chart_char_guid = (uuid_t *)(chart_object + 16);
 
             ret = find_object_by_guid(chart_char_guid, id_str, RRD_ID_LENGTH_MAX + 1);
-            assert(GUID_TYPE_CHAR == ret);
+            fatal_assert(GUID_TYPE_CHAR == ret);
             ((PARSER_USER_OBJECT *) user)->st = rrdset_find(host, id_str);
             break;
         default:
-            assert(0);
+            fatal_assert(0);
             break;
         }
         break;
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ PARSER_RC metalog_pluginsd_tombstone_action(void *user, uuid_t *uuid)
     ret = find_object_by_guid(uuid, NULL, 0);
     switch (ret) {
         case GUID_TYPE_CHAR:
-            assert(0);
+            fatal_assert(0);
             break;
         case GUID_TYPE_CHART:
             st = metalog_get_chart_from_uuid(ctx, uuid);
diff --git a/database/engine/pagecache.c b/database/engine/pagecache.c
index f1f3a5be85..f37257c425 100644
--- a/database/engine/pagecache.c
+++ b/database/engine/pagecache.c
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ uint8_t pg_cache_punch_hole(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrdeng_page_d
 
     uv_rwlock_rdlock(&pg_cache->metrics_index.lock);
     PValue = JudyHSGet(pg_cache->metrics_index.JudyHS_array, descr->id, sizeof(uuid_t));
-    assert(NULL != PValue);
+    fatal_assert(NULL != PValue);
     page_index = *PValue;
     uv_rwlock_rdunlock(&pg_cache->metrics_index.lock);
 
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ uint8_t pg_cache_punch_hole(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrdeng_page_d
         }
     }
     uv_rwlock_wrunlock(&page_index->lock);
-    assert(1 == ret);
+    fatal_assert(1 == ret);
 
     uv_rwlock_wrlock(&pg_cache->pg_cache_rwlock);
     ++ctx->stats.pg_cache_deletions;
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ void pg_cache_update_metric_times(struct pg_cache_page_index *page_index)
     uv_rwlock_rdunlock(&page_index->lock);
 
     if (unlikely(NULL == firstPValue)) {
-        assert(NULL == lastPValue);
+        fatal_assert(NULL == lastPValue);
         page_index->oldest_time = page_index->latest_time = INVALID_TIME;
         return;
     }
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ void pg_cache_insert(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct pg_cache_page_index
         /* there is page cache descriptor pre-allocated state */
         struct page_cache_descr *pg_cache_descr = descr->pg_cache_descr;
 
-        assert(pg_cache_descr_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_ALLOCATED);
+        fatal_assert(pg_cache_descr_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_ALLOCATED);
         if (pg_cache_descr->flags & RRD_PAGE_POPULATED) {
             pg_cache_reserve_pages(ctx, 1);
             if (!(pg_cache_descr->flags & RRD_PAGE_DIRTY))
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ void pg_cache_insert(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct pg_cache_page_index
     if (unlikely(NULL == index)) {
         uv_rwlock_rdlock(&pg_cache->metrics_index.lock);
         PValue = JudyHSGet(pg_cache->metrics_index.JudyHS_array, descr->id, sizeof(uuid_t));
-        assert(NULL != PValue);
+        fatal_assert(NULL != PValue);
         page_index = *PValue;
         uv_rwlock_rdunlock(&pg_cache->metrics_index.lock);
     } else {
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ void pg_cache_get_filtered_info_prev(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct pg_c
     Word_t Index;
 
     (void)pg_cache;
-    assert(NULL != page_index);
+    fatal_assert(NULL != page_index);
 
     Index = (Word_t)(point_in_time / USEC_PER_SEC);
     uv_rwlock_rdlock(&page_index->lock);
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ unsigned pg_cache_preload(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, uuid_t *id, usec_t sta
     Word_t Index;
     uint8_t failed_to_reserve;
 
-    assert(NULL != ret_page_indexp);
+    fatal_assert(NULL != ret_page_indexp);
 
     uv_rwlock_rdlock(&pg_cache->metrics_index.lock);
     PValue = JudyHSGet(pg_cache->metrics_index.JudyHS_array, id, sizeof(uuid_t));
@@ -1048,7 +1048,7 @@ struct pg_cache_page_index *create_page_index(uuid_t *id)
     page_index = mallocz(sizeof(*page_index));
     page_index->JudyL_array = (Pvoid_t) NULL;
     uuid_copy(page_index->id, *id);
-    assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&page_index->lock));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&page_index->lock));
     page_index->oldest_time = INVALID_TIME;
     page_index->latest_time = INVALID_TIME;
     page_index->prev = NULL;
@@ -1064,7 +1064,7 @@ static void init_metrics_index(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx)
 
     pg_cache->metrics_index.JudyHS_array = (Pvoid_t) NULL;
     pg_cache->metrics_index.last_page_index = NULL;
-    assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&pg_cache->metrics_index.lock));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&pg_cache->metrics_index.lock));
 }
 
 static void init_replaceQ(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx)
@@ -1073,7 +1073,7 @@ static void init_replaceQ(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx)
 
     pg_cache->replaceQ.head = NULL;
     pg_cache->replaceQ.tail = NULL;
-    assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&pg_cache->replaceQ.lock));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&pg_cache->replaceQ.lock));
 }
 
 static void init_committed_page_index(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx)
@@ -1081,7 +1081,7 @@ static void init_committed_page_index(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx)
     struct page_cache *pg_cache = &ctx->pg_cache;
 
     pg_cache->committed_page_index.JudyL_array = (Pvoid_t) NULL;
-    assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&pg_cache->committed_page_index.lock));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&pg_cache->committed_page_index.lock));
     pg_cache->committed_page_index.latest_corr_id = 0;
     pg_cache->committed_page_index.nr_committed_pages = 0;
 }
@@ -1092,7 +1092,7 @@ void init_page_cache(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx)
 
     pg_cache->page_descriptors = 0;
     pg_cache->populated_pages = 0;
-    assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&pg_cache->pg_cache_rwlock));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_rwlock_init(&pg_cache->pg_cache_rwlock));
 
     init_metrics_index(ctx);
     init_replaceQ(ctx);
@@ -1111,7 +1111,7 @@ void free_page_cache(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx)
 
     /* Free committed page index */
     ret_Judy = JudyLFreeArray(&pg_cache->committed_page_index.JudyL_array, PJE0);
-    assert(NULL == pg_cache->committed_page_index.JudyL_array);
+    fatal_assert(NULL == pg_cache->committed_page_index.JudyL_array);
     bytes_freed += ret_Judy;
 
     for (page_index = pg_cache->metrics_index.last_page_index ;
@@ -1146,14 +1146,14 @@ void free_page_cache(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx)
 
         /* Free page index */
         ret_Judy = JudyLFreeArray(&page_index->JudyL_array, PJE0);
-        assert(NULL == page_index->JudyL_array);
+        fatal_assert(NULL == page_index->JudyL_array);
         bytes_freed += ret_Judy;
         freez(page_index);
         bytes_freed += sizeof(*page_index);
     }
     /* Free metrics index */
     ret_Judy = JudyHSFreeArray(&pg_cache->metrics_index.JudyHS_array, PJE0);
-    assert(NULL == pg_cache->metrics_index.JudyHS_array);
+    fatal_assert(NULL == pg_cache->metrics_index.JudyHS_array);
     bytes_freed += ret_Judy;
 
     info("Freed %lu bytes of memory from page cache.", bytes_freed);
diff --git a/database/engine/pagecache.h b/database/engine/pagecache.h
index 4ca57cd667..31e9739da6 100644
--- a/database/engine/pagecache.h
+++ b/database/engine/pagecache.h
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ static inline void
 /* The caller must hold a reference to the page and must have already set the new data */
 static inline void pg_cache_atomic_set_pg_info(struct rrdeng_page_descr *descr, usec_t end_time, uint32_t page_length)
 {
-    assert(!(end_time & 1));
+    fatal_assert(!(end_time & 1));
     __sync_synchronize();
     descr->end_time |= 1; /* mark start of uncertainty period by adding 1 microsecond */
     __sync_synchronize();
diff --git a/database/engine/rrdengine.c b/database/engine/rrdengine.c
index bf59242711..000bf88a6a 100644
--- a/database/engine/rrdengine.c
+++ b/database/engine/rrdengine.c
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ static void do_read_extent(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc,
     real_io_size = ALIGN_BYTES_CEILING(size_bytes);
     xt_io_descr->iov = uv_buf_init((void *)xt_io_descr->buf, real_io_size);
     ret = uv_fs_read(wc->loop, &xt_io_descr->req, datafile->file, &xt_io_descr->iov, 1, pos, read_extent_cb);
-    assert (-1 != ret);
+    fatal_assert(-1 != ret);
     ctx->stats.io_read_bytes += real_io_size;
     ++ctx->stats.io_read_requests;
     ctx->stats.io_read_extent_bytes += real_io_size;
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ static void do_commit_transaction(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc, uint8_t ty
         commit_data_extent(wc, (struct extent_io_descriptor *)data);
         break;
     default:
-        assert(type == STORE_DATA);
+        fatal_assert(type == STORE_DATA);
         break;
     }
 }
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ static void invalidate_oldest_committed(void *arg)
 
              PValue = JudyLNext(pg_cache->committed_page_index.JudyL_array, &Index, PJE0),
                      descr = unlikely(NULL == PValue) ? NULL : *PValue) {
-            assert(0 != descr->page_length);
+            fatal_assert(0 != descr->page_length);
 
             rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_lock(ctx, descr);
             pg_cache_descr = descr->pg_cache_descr;
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ static void invalidate_oldest_committed(void *arg)
                 rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_unlock(ctx, descr);
 
                 ret = JudyLDel(&pg_cache->committed_page_index.JudyL_array, Index, PJE0);
-                assert(1 == ret);
+                fatal_assert(1 == ret);
                 break;
             }
             rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_unlock(ctx, descr);
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ static void invalidate_oldest_committed(void *arg)
 out:
     wc->cleanup_thread_invalidating_dirty_pages = 1;
     /* wake up event loop */
-    assert(0 == uv_async_send(&wc->async));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_async_send(&wc->async));
 }
 
 void rrdeng_invalidate_oldest_committed(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc)
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ static int do_flush_pages(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc, int force, struct
          descr = unlikely(NULL == PValue) ? NULL : *PValue) {
         uint8_t page_write_pending;
 
-        assert(0 != descr->page_length);
+        fatal_assert(0 != descr->page_length);
         page_write_pending = 0;
 
         rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_lock(ctx, descr);
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ static int do_flush_pages(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc, int force, struct
 
         if (page_write_pending) {
             ret = JudyLDel(&pg_cache->committed_page_index.JudyL_array, Index, PJE0);
-            assert(1 == ret);
+            fatal_assert(1 == ret);
         }
     }
     uv_rwlock_wrunlock(&pg_cache->committed_page_index.lock);
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ static int do_flush_pages(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc, int force, struct
         size_bytes = payload_offset + uncompressed_payload_length + sizeof(*trailer);
         break;
     default: /* Compress */
-        assert(uncompressed_payload_length < LZ4_MAX_INPUT_SIZE);
+        fatal_assert(uncompressed_payload_length < LZ4_MAX_INPUT_SIZE);
         max_compressed_size = LZ4_compressBound(uncompressed_payload_length);
         compressed_buf = mallocz(max_compressed_size);
         size_bytes = payload_offset + MAX(uncompressed_payload_length, (unsigned)max_compressed_size) + sizeof(*trailer);
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ static int do_flush_pages(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc, int force, struct
     real_io_size = ALIGN_BYTES_CEILING(size_bytes);
     xt_io_descr->iov = uv_buf_init((void *)xt_io_descr->buf, real_io_size);
     ret = uv_fs_write(wc->loop, &xt_io_descr->req, datafile->file, &xt_io_descr->iov, 1, datafile->pos, flush_pages_cb);
-    assert (-1 != ret);
+    fatal_assert(-1 != ret);
     ctx->stats.io_write_bytes += real_io_size;
     ++ctx->stats.io_write_requests;
     ctx->stats.io_write_extent_bytes += real_io_size;
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ static void delete_old_data(void *arg)
     }
     wc->cleanup_thread_deleting_files = 1;
     /* wake up event loop */
-    assert(0 == uv_async_send(&wc->async));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_async_send(&wc->async));
 }
 
 void rrdeng_test_quota(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc)
@@ -751,8 +751,8 @@ void rrdeng_init_cmd_queue(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc)
 {
     wc->cmd_queue.head = wc->cmd_queue.tail = 0;
     wc->queue_size = 0;
-    assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&wc->cmd_cond));
-    assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&wc->cmd_mutex));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&wc->cmd_cond));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&wc->cmd_mutex));
 }
 
 void rrdeng_enq_cmd(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc, struct rrdeng_cmd *cmd)
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ void rrdeng_enq_cmd(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc, struct rrdeng_cmd *cmd)
     while ((queue_size = wc->queue_size) == RRDENG_CMD_Q_MAX_SIZE) {
         uv_cond_wait(&wc->cmd_cond, &wc->cmd_mutex);
     }
-    assert(queue_size < RRDENG_CMD_Q_MAX_SIZE);
+    fatal_assert(queue_size < RRDENG_CMD_Q_MAX_SIZE);
     /* enqueue command */
     wc->cmd_queue.cmd_array[wc->cmd_queue.tail] = *cmd;
     wc->cmd_queue.tail = wc->cmd_queue.tail != RRDENG_CMD_Q_MAX_SIZE - 1 ?
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@ void rrdeng_enq_cmd(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc, struct rrdeng_cmd *cmd)
     uv_mutex_unlock(&wc->cmd_mutex);
 
     /* wake up event loop */
-    assert(0 == uv_async_send(&wc->async));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_async_send(&wc->async));
 }
 
 struct rrdeng_cmd rrdeng_deq_cmd(struct rrdengine_worker_config* wc)
@@ -914,7 +914,7 @@ void rrdeng_worker(void* arg)
     /* wake up initialization thread */
     complete(&ctx->rrdengine_completion);
 
-    assert(0 == uv_timer_start(&timer_req, timer_cb, TIMER_PERIOD_MS, TIMER_PERIOD_MS));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_timer_start(&timer_req, timer_cb, TIMER_PERIOD_MS, TIMER_PERIOD_MS));
     shutdown = 0;
     while (likely(shutdown == 0 || rrdeng_threads_alive(wc))) {
         uv_run(loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
@@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ void rrdeng_worker(void* arg)
             case RRDENG_QUIESCE:
                 ctx->drop_metrics_under_page_cache_pressure = 0;
                 ctx->quiesce = SET_QUIESCE;
-                assert(0 == uv_timer_stop(&timer_req));
+                fatal_assert(0 == uv_timer_stop(&timer_req));
                 uv_close((uv_handle_t *)&timer_req, NULL);
                 while (do_flush_pages(wc, 1, NULL)) {
                     ; /* Force flushing of all committed pages. */
@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@ void rrdeng_worker(void* arg)
     /* TODO: don't let the API block by waiting to enqueue commands */
     uv_cond_destroy(&wc->cmd_cond);
 /*  uv_mutex_destroy(&wc->cmd_mutex); */
-    assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
     freez(loop);
 
     return;
@@ -1011,7 +1011,7 @@ void rrdeng_worker(void* arg)
 error_after_timer_init:
     uv_close((uv_handle_t *)&wc->async, NULL);
 error_after_async_init:
-    assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
 error_after_loop_init:
     freez(loop);
 
diff --git a/database/engine/rrdengineapi.c b/database/engine/rrdengineapi.c
index b09d12c0e6..daa96376ed 100755
--- a/database/engine/rrdengineapi.c
+++ b/database/engine/rrdengineapi.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ void rrdeng_generate_legacy_uuid(const char *dim_id, char *chart_id, uuid_t *ret
     EVP_DigestUpdate(evpctx, chart_id, strlen(chart_id));
     EVP_DigestFinal_ex(evpctx, hash_value, &hash_len);
     EVP_MD_CTX_destroy(evpctx);
-    assert(hash_len > sizeof(uuid_t));
+    fatal_assert(hash_len > sizeof(uuid_t));
     memcpy(ret_uuid, hash_value, sizeof(uuid_t));
 }
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ void rrdeng_convert_legacy_uuid_to_multihost(char machine_guid[GUID_LEN + 1], uu
     EVP_DigestUpdate(evpctx, *legacy_uuid, sizeof(uuid_t));
     EVP_DigestFinal_ex(evpctx, hash_value, &hash_len);
     EVP_MD_CTX_destroy(evpctx);
-    assert(hash_len > sizeof(uuid_t));
+    fatal_assert(hash_len > sizeof(uuid_t));
     memcpy(ret_uuid, hash_value, sizeof(uuid_t));
 }
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ void rrdeng_metric_init(RRDDIM *rd, uuid_t *dim_uuid)
             error("FAILED to generate GUID for %s", rd->id);
             freez(rd->state->metric_uuid);
             rd->state->metric_uuid = NULL;
-            assert(0);
+            fatal_assert(0);
         }
 
         uv_rwlock_rdlock(&pg_cache->metrics_index.lock);
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ void rrdeng_metric_init(RRDDIM *rd, uuid_t *dim_uuid)
         if (NULL == PValue) {
             uv_rwlock_wrlock(&pg_cache->metrics_index.lock);
             PValue = JudyHSIns(&pg_cache->metrics_index.JudyHS_array, rd->state->metric_uuid, sizeof(uuid_t), PJE0);
-            assert(NULL == *PValue); /* TODO: figure out concurrency model */
+            fatal_assert(NULL == *PValue); /* TODO: figure out concurrency model */
             *PValue = page_index = create_page_index(rd->state->metric_uuid);
             page_index->prev = pg_cache->metrics_index.last_page_index;
             pg_cache->metrics_index.last_page_index = page_index;
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ void rrdeng_metric_init(RRDDIM *rd, uuid_t *dim_uuid)
             error("FAILED to generate GUID for %s", rd->id);
             freez(rd->state->metric_uuid);
             rd->state->metric_uuid = NULL;
-            assert(0);
+            fatal_assert(0);
         }
     }
     rd->state->rrdeng_uuid = &page_index->id;
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ void rrdeng_store_metric_flush_current_page(RRDDIM *rd)
             rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_lock(ctx, descr);
             ret = pg_cache_try_get_unsafe(descr, 0);
             rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_unlock(ctx, descr);
-            assert (1 == ret);
+            fatal_assert(1 == ret);
 
             rrdeng_commit_page(ctx, descr, handle->page_correlation_id);
             handle->prev_descr = descr;
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ void rrdeng_store_metric_next(RRDDIM *rd, usec_t point_in_time, storage_number n
         rrdeng_store_metric_flush_current_page(rd);
 
         page = rrdeng_create_page(ctx, &rd->state->page_index->id, &descr);
-        assert(page);
+        fatal_assert(page);
 
         handle->descr = descr;
 
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ unsigned rrdeng_variable_step_boundaries(RRDSET *st, time_t start_time, time_t e
             continue;
         }
         page_entries = curr->page_length / sizeof(storage_number);
-        assert(0 != page_entries);
+        fatal_assert(0 != page_entries);
         if (likely(1 != page_entries)) {
             dt = (curr->end_time - curr->start_time) / (page_entries - 1);
             *pginfo_to_dt(curr) = ROUND_USEC_TO_SEC(dt);
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ unsigned rrdeng_variable_step_boundaries(RRDSET *st, time_t start_time, time_t e
             if (1 == page_points)
                 first_valid_time_in_page = current_position_time;
             if (unlikely(!is_first_region_initialized)) {
-                assert(1 == regions);
+                fatal_assert(1 == regions);
                 /* this is the first region */
                 region_info_array[0].start_time = current_position_time;
                 is_first_region_initialized = 1;
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ unsigned rrdeng_variable_step_boundaries(RRDSET *st, time_t start_time, time_t e
         }
 
         if (unlikely(0 == *pginfo_to_dt(curr))) { /* unknown data collection interval */
-            assert(1 == page_points);
+            fatal_assert(1 == page_points);
 
             if (likely(NULL != prev)) { /* get interval from previous page */
                 *pginfo_to_dt(curr) = *pginfo_to_dt(prev);
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ storage_number rrdeng_load_metric_next(struct rrddim_query_handle *rrdimm_handle
     }
     handle->position = position;
     handle->now = current_position_time / USEC_PER_SEC;
-/*  assert(handle->now >= rrdimm_handle->start_time && handle->now <= rrdimm_handle->end_time);
+/*  fatal_assert(handle->now >= rrdimm_handle->start_time && handle->now <= rrdimm_handle->end_time);
     The above assertion is an approximation and needs to take update_every into account */
     if (unlikely(handle->now >= rrdimm_handle->end_time)) {
         /* next calls will not load any more metrics */
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ void rrdeng_commit_page(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrdeng_page_descr
         debug(D_RRDENGINE, "%s: page descriptor is NULL, page has already been force-committed.", __func__);
         return;
     }
-    assert(descr->page_length);
+    fatal_assert(descr->page_length);
 
     uv_rwlock_wrlock(&pg_cache->committed_page_index.lock);
     PValue = JudyLIns(&pg_cache->committed_page_index.JudyL_array, page_correlation_id, PJE0);
@@ -835,7 +835,7 @@ void rrdeng_get_37_statistics(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, unsigned long long
     array[34] = (uint64_t)global_pg_cache_over_half_dirty_events;
     array[35] = (uint64_t)ctx->stats.flushing_pressure_page_deletions;
     array[36] = (uint64_t)global_flushing_pressure_page_deletions;
-    assert(RRDENG_NR_STATS == 37);
+    fatal_assert(RRDENG_NR_STATS == 37);
 }
 
 /* Releases reference to page */
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ int rrdeng_init(RRDHOST *host, struct rrdengine_instance **ctxp, char *dbfiles_p
     }
 
     init_completion(&ctx->rrdengine_completion);
-    assert(0 == uv_thread_create(&ctx->worker_config.thread, rrdeng_worker, &ctx->worker_config));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_thread_create(&ctx->worker_config.thread, rrdeng_worker, &ctx->worker_config));
     /* wait for worker thread to initialize */
     wait_for_completion(&ctx->rrdengine_completion);
     destroy_completion(&ctx->rrdengine_completion);
@@ -945,7 +945,7 @@ int rrdeng_exit(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx)
     cmd.opcode = RRDENG_SHUTDOWN;
     rrdeng_enq_cmd(&ctx->worker_config, &cmd);
 
-    assert(0 == uv_thread_join(&ctx->worker_config.thread));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_thread_join(&ctx->worker_config.thread));
 
     finalize_rrd_files(ctx);
     metalog_exit(ctx->metalog_ctx);
diff --git a/database/engine/rrdenginelib.c b/database/engine/rrdenginelib.c
index 26696fb25d..1edcb9c7e8 100644
--- a/database/engine/rrdenginelib.c
+++ b/database/engine/rrdenginelib.c
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ int check_file_properties(uv_file file, uint64_t *file_size, size_t min_size)
     if (ret < 0) {
         fatal("uv_fs_fstat: %s\n", uv_strerror(ret));
     }
-    assert(req.result == 0);
+    fatal_assert(req.result == 0);
     s = req.ptr;
     if (!(s->st_mode & S_IFREG)) {
         error("Not a regular file.\n");
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ int open_file_for_io(char *path, int flags, uv_file *file, int direct)
     uv_fs_t req;
     int fd, current_flags;
 
-    assert(0 == direct || 1 == direct);
+    fatal_assert(0 == direct || 1 == direct);
     for ( ; direct >= 0 ; --direct) {
 #ifdef __APPLE__
         /* Apple OS does not support O_DIRECT */
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ int open_file_for_io(char *path, int flags, uv_file *file, int direct)
                 --direct; /* break the loop */
             }
         } else {
-            assert(req.result >= 0);
+            fatal_assert(req.result >= 0);
             *file = req.result;
 #ifdef __APPLE__
             info("Disabling OS X caching for file \"%s\".", path);
diff --git a/database/engine/rrdenginelib.h b/database/engine/rrdenginelib.h
index 7962cbc018..982085d295 100644
--- a/database/engine/rrdenginelib.h
+++ b/database/engine/rrdenginelib.h
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ struct completion {
 static inline void init_completion(struct completion *p)
 {
     p->completed = 0;
-    assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&p->cond));
-    assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&p->mutex));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&p->cond));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&p->mutex));
 }
 
 static inline void destroy_completion(struct completion *p)
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ static inline void wait_for_completion(struct completion *p)
     while (0 == p->completed) {
         uv_cond_wait(&p->cond, &p->mutex);
     }
-    assert(1 == p->completed);
+    fatal_assert(1 == p->completed);
     uv_mutex_unlock(&p->mutex);
 }
 
diff --git a/database/engine/rrdenglocking.c b/database/engine/rrdenglocking.c
index 0c1d26f25a..a23abf307d 100644
--- a/database/engine/rrdenglocking.c
+++ b/database/engine/rrdenglocking.c
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ struct page_cache_descr *rrdeng_create_pg_cache_descr(struct rrdengine_instance
     pg_cache_descr->prev = pg_cache_descr->next = NULL;
     pg_cache_descr->refcnt = 0;
     pg_cache_descr->waiters = 0;
-    assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&pg_cache_descr->cond));
-    assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&pg_cache_descr->mutex));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&pg_cache_descr->cond));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&pg_cache_descr->mutex));
 
     return pg_cache_descr;
 }
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ void rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_lock(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrdeng_
         old_users = old_state >> PG_CACHE_DESCR_SHIFT;
 
         if (unlikely(we_locked)) {
-            assert(old_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_LOCKED);
+            fatal_assert(old_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_LOCKED);
             new_state = (1 << PG_CACHE_DESCR_SHIFT) | PG_CACHE_DESCR_ALLOCATED;
             ret_state = ulong_compare_and_swap(&descr->pg_cache_descr_state, old_state, new_state);
             if (old_state == ret_state) {
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ void rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_lock(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrdeng_
             continue; /* spin */
         }
         if (old_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_LOCKED) {
-            assert(0 == old_users);
+            fatal_assert(0 == old_users);
             continue; /* spin */
         }
         if (0 == old_state) {
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ void rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_unlock(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrden
         old_users = old_state >> PG_CACHE_DESCR_SHIFT;
 
         if (unlikely(we_locked)) {
-            assert(0 == old_users);
+            fatal_assert(0 == old_users);
 
             ret_state = ulong_compare_and_swap(&descr->pg_cache_descr_state, old_state, 0);
             if (old_state == ret_state) {
@@ -117,15 +117,15 @@ void rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_unlock(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrden
             continue; /* spin */
         }
         if (old_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_LOCKED) {
-            assert(0 == old_users);
+            fatal_assert(0 == old_users);
             continue; /* spin */
         }
-        assert(old_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_ALLOCATED);
+        fatal_assert(old_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_ALLOCATED);
         pg_cache_descr = descr->pg_cache_descr;
         /* caller is the only page cache descriptor user and there are no pending references on the page */
         if ((old_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_DESTROY) && (1 == old_users) &&
             !pg_cache_descr->flags && !pg_cache_descr->refcnt) {
-            assert(!pg_cache_descr->waiters);
+            fatal_assert(!pg_cache_descr->waiters);
 
             new_state = PG_CACHE_DESCR_LOCKED;
             ret_state = ulong_compare_and_swap(&descr->pg_cache_descr_state, old_state, new_state);
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ void rrdeng_page_descr_mutex_unlock(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct rrden
             }
             continue; /* spin */
         }
-        assert(old_users > 0);
+        fatal_assert(old_users > 0);
         new_state = (old_users - 1) << PG_CACHE_DESCR_SHIFT;
         new_state |= old_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_FLAGS_MASK;
 
@@ -170,13 +170,13 @@ void rrdeng_try_deallocate_pg_cache_descr(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct
         old_users = old_state >> PG_CACHE_DESCR_SHIFT;
 
         if (unlikely(just_locked)) {
-            assert(0 == old_users);
+            fatal_assert(0 == old_users);
 
             must_unlock = 1;
             just_locked = 0;
             /* Try deallocate if there are no pending references on the page */
             if (!pg_cache_descr->flags && !pg_cache_descr->refcnt) {
-                assert(!pg_cache_descr->waiters);
+                fatal_assert(!pg_cache_descr->waiters);
 
                 descr->pg_cache_descr = NULL;
                 can_free = 1;
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ void rrdeng_try_deallocate_pg_cache_descr(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct
             continue; /* spin */
         }
         if (unlikely(must_unlock)) {
-            assert(0 == old_users);
+            fatal_assert(0 == old_users);
 
             if (can_free) {
                 /* success */
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ void rrdeng_try_deallocate_pg_cache_descr(struct rrdengine_instance *ctx, struct
             return;
         }
         if (old_state & PG_CACHE_DESCR_LOCKED) {
-            assert(0 == old_users);
+            fatal_assert(0 == old_users);
             continue; /* spin */
         }
         /* caller is the only page cache descriptor user */
diff --git a/database/rrdset.c b/database/rrdset.c
index 9bce32e528..9fc4009aff 100644
--- a/database/rrdset.c
+++ b/database/rrdset.c
@@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ RRDSET *rrdset_create_custom(
             error("FAILED to generate GUID for %s", st->id);
             freez(st->chart_uuid);
             st->chart_uuid = NULL;
-            assert(0);
+            fatal_assert(0);
         }
         st->compaction_id = 0;
     }
diff --git a/libnetdata/log/log.h b/libnetdata/log/log.h
index 8b54f28de1..1d32cf2091 100644
--- a/libnetdata/log/log.h
+++ b/libnetdata/log/log.h
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ static inline void debug_dummy(void) {}
 #define infoerr(args...) error_int("INFO", __FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args)
 #define error(args...)   error_int("ERROR", __FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args)
 #define fatal(args...)   fatal_int(__FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, ##args)
+#define fatal_assert(expr) ((expr) ? (void)(0) : fatal_int(__FILE__, __FUNCTION__, __LINE__, "Assertion `%s' failed", #expr))
 
 extern void send_statistics(const char *action, const char *action_result, const char *action_data);
 extern void debug_int( const char *file, const char *function, const unsigned long line, const char *fmt, ... ) PRINTFLIKE(4, 5);
diff --git a/spawn/spawn.c b/spawn/spawn.c
index 0bacbbca16..256c046790 100644
--- a/spawn/spawn.c
+++ b/spawn/spawn.c
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ static struct spawn_cmd_info *create_spawn_cmd(char *command_to_run)
     struct spawn_cmd_info *cmdinfo;
 
     cmdinfo = mallocz(sizeof(*cmdinfo));
-    assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&cmdinfo->cond));
-    assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&cmdinfo->mutex));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&cmdinfo->cond));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&cmdinfo->mutex));
     cmdinfo->serial = 0; /* invalid */
     cmdinfo->command_to_run = strdupz(command_to_run);
     cmdinfo->exit_status = -1; /* invalid */
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ static void init_spawn_cmd_queue(void)
     spawn_cmd_queue.cmd_tree.compar = spawn_cmd_compare;
     spawn_cmd_queue.size = 0;
     spawn_cmd_queue.latest_serial = 0;
-    assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&spawn_cmd_queue.cond));
-    assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&spawn_cmd_queue.mutex));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&spawn_cmd_queue.cond));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&spawn_cmd_queue.mutex));
 }
 
 /*
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ uint64_t spawn_enq_cmd(char *command_to_run)
     while ((queue_size = spawn_cmd_queue.size) == SPAWN_MAX_OUTSTANDING) {
         uv_cond_wait(&spawn_cmd_queue.cond, &spawn_cmd_queue.mutex);
     }
-    assert(queue_size < SPAWN_MAX_OUTSTANDING);
+    fatal_assert(queue_size < SPAWN_MAX_OUTSTANDING);
     spawn_cmd_queue.size = queue_size + 1;
 
     serial = ++spawn_cmd_queue.latest_serial; /* 0 is invalid */
@@ -80,11 +80,11 @@ uint64_t spawn_enq_cmd(char *command_to_run)
 
     /* enqueue command */
     avl_ret = avl_insert(&spawn_cmd_queue.cmd_tree, (avl *)cmdinfo);
-    assert(avl_ret == (avl *)cmdinfo);
+    fatal_assert(avl_ret == (avl *)cmdinfo);
     uv_mutex_unlock(&spawn_cmd_queue.mutex);
 
     /* wake up event loop */
-    assert(0 == uv_async_send(&spawn_async));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_async_send(&spawn_async));
     return serial;
 }
 
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ void spawn_wait_cmd(uint64_t serial, int *exit_status, time_t *exec_run_timestam
     avl_ret = avl_search(&spawn_cmd_queue.cmd_tree, (avl *)&tmp);
     uv_mutex_unlock(&spawn_cmd_queue.mutex);
 
-    assert(avl_ret); /* Could be NULL if more than 1 threads wait for the command */
+    fatal_assert(avl_ret); /* Could be NULL if more than 1 threads wait for the command */
     cmdinfo = (struct spawn_cmd_info *)avl_ret;
 
     uv_mutex_lock(&cmdinfo->mutex);
@@ -126,10 +126,10 @@ void spawn_deq_cmd(struct spawn_cmd_info *cmdinfo)
 
     uv_mutex_lock(&spawn_cmd_queue.mutex);
     queue_size = spawn_cmd_queue.size;
-    assert(queue_size);
+    fatal_assert(queue_size);
     /* dequeue command */
     avl_ret = avl_remove(&spawn_cmd_queue.cmd_tree, (avl *)cmdinfo);
-    assert(avl_ret);
+    fatal_assert(avl_ret);
 
     spawn_cmd_queue.size = queue_size - 1;
 
diff --git a/spawn/spawn_client.c b/spawn/spawn_client.c
index bcc028a46c..83dc3c80df 100644
--- a/spawn/spawn_client.c
+++ b/spawn/spawn_client.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ static void client_parse_spawn_protocol(unsigned source_len, char *source)
 
         header = (struct spawn_prot_header *)prot_buffer;
         cmdinfo = (struct spawn_cmd_info *)header->handle;
-        assert(NULL != cmdinfo);
+        fatal_assert(NULL != cmdinfo);
 
         switch(header->opcode) {
         case SPAWN_PROT_SPAWN_RESULT:
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ static void client_parse_spawn_protocol(unsigned source_len, char *source)
             prot_buffer_len = 0;
             break;
         default:
-            assert(0);
+            fatal_assert(0);
             break;
         }
 
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ static void spawn_process_cmd(struct spawn_cmd_info *cmdinfo)
     info("CLIENT %s SPAWN_PROT_EXEC_CMD %u", __func__, (unsigned)cmdinfo->serial);
 #endif
     ret = uv_write(&write_ctx->write_req, (uv_stream_t *)&spawn_channel, writebuf, 3, after_pipe_write);
-    assert(ret == 0);
+    fatal_assert(ret == 0);
 }
 
 void spawn_client(void *arg)
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ void spawn_client(void *arg)
         spawn_thread_error = ret;
         goto error_after_pipe_init;
     }
-    assert(spawn_channel.ipc);
+    fatal_assert(spawn_channel.ipc);
 
     ret = create_spawn_server(loop, &spawn_channel, &process);
     if (ret) {
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ void spawn_client(void *arg)
 
     prot_buffer_len = 0;
     ret = uv_read_start((uv_stream_t *)&spawn_channel, on_read_alloc, on_pipe_read);
-    assert(ret == 0);
+    fatal_assert(ret == 0);
 
     while (spawn_thread_shutdown == 0) {
         struct spawn_cmd_info *cmdinfo;
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ void spawn_client(void *arg)
     uv_run(loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT); /* flush all libuv handles */
 
     info("Shutting down spawn client loop complete.");
-    assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
 
     return;
 
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ error_after_pipe_init:
     uv_close((uv_handle_t *)&spawn_async, NULL);
 error_after_async_init:
     uv_run(loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT); /* flush all libuv handles */
-    assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
 error_after_loop_init:
     freez(loop);
 
diff --git a/spawn/spawn_server.c b/spawn/spawn_server.c
index b7a2546eae..f84fab1caa 100644
--- a/spawn/spawn_server.c
+++ b/spawn/spawn_server.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ static void child_waited_async_cb(uv_async_t *async_handle)
         fprintf(stderr, "SERVER %s SPAWN_PROT_CMD_EXIT_STATUS\n", __func__);
 #endif
         ret = uv_write(&write_ctx->write_req, (uv_stream_t *) &server_pipe, writebuf, 2, after_pipe_write);
-        assert(ret == 0);
+        fatal_assert(ret == 0);
 
         freez(exec_info);
     }
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ static void wait_children(void *arg)
 #ifdef SPAWN_DEBUG
             fprintf(stderr, "SPAWN: Successfully waited for pid:%d.\n", (int) i.si_pid);
 #endif
-            assert(CLD_EXITED == i.si_code);
+            fatal_assert(CLD_EXITED == i.si_code);
             tmp.pid = (pid_t)i.si_pid;
             while (NULL == (ret_avl = avl_remove_lock(&spawn_outstanding_exec_tree, (avl *)&tmp))) {
                 fprintf(stderr,
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ static void wait_children(void *arg)
             enqueue_child_waited_list(exec_info);
 
             /* wake up event loop */
-            assert(0 == uv_async_send(&child_waited_async));
+            fatal_assert(0 == uv_async_send(&child_waited_async));
         }
     }
 }
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ void spawn_protocol_execute_command(void *handle, char *command_to_run, uint16_t
         exec_info->handle = handle;
         exec_info->pid = write_ctx->spawn_result.exec_pid;
         avl_ret = avl_insert_lock(&spawn_outstanding_exec_tree, (avl *)exec_info);
-        assert(avl_ret == (avl *)exec_info);
+        fatal_assert(avl_ret == (avl *)exec_info);
 
         /* wake up the thread that blocks waiting for processes to exit */
         uv_mutex_lock(&wait_children_mutex);
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ void spawn_protocol_execute_command(void *handle, char *command_to_run, uint16_t
     fprintf(stderr, "SERVER %s SPAWN_PROT_SPAWN_RESULT\n", __func__);
 #endif
     ret = uv_write(&write_ctx->write_req, (uv_stream_t *)&server_pipe, writebuf, 2, after_pipe_write);
-    assert(ret == 0);
+    fatal_assert(ret == 0);
 }
 
 static void server_parse_spawn_protocol(unsigned source_len, char *source)
@@ -210,8 +210,8 @@ static void server_parse_spawn_protocol(unsigned source_len, char *source)
             return; /* Source buffer ran out */
 
         header = (struct spawn_prot_header *)prot_buffer;
-        assert(SPAWN_PROT_EXEC_CMD == header->opcode);
-        assert(NULL != header->handle);
+        fatal_assert(SPAWN_PROT_EXEC_CMD == header->opcode);
+        fatal_assert(NULL != header->handle);
 
         required_len += sizeof(*payload);
         if (prot_buffer_len < required_len)
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ void spawn_server(void)
         fprintf(stderr, "uv_pipe_init(): %s\n", uv_strerror(error));
         exit(error);
     }
-    assert(server_pipe.ipc);
+    fatal_assert(server_pipe.ipc);
 
     error = uv_pipe_open(&server_pipe, 0 /* UV_STDIN_FD */);
     if (error) {
@@ -348,8 +348,8 @@ void spawn_server(void)
     avl_init_lock(&spawn_outstanding_exec_tree, spawn_exec_compare);
 
     spawned_processes = 0;
-    assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&wait_children_cond));
-    assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&wait_children_mutex));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_cond_init(&wait_children_cond));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_mutex_init(&wait_children_mutex));
     child_waited_list = NULL;
     error = uv_async_init(loop, &child_waited_async, child_waited_async_cb);
     if (error) {
@@ -365,13 +365,13 @@ void spawn_server(void)
 
     prot_buffer_len = 0;
     error = uv_read_start((uv_stream_t *)&server_pipe, on_read_alloc, on_pipe_read);
-    assert(error == 0);
+    fatal_assert(error == 0);
 
     while (!server_shutdown) {
         uv_run(loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
     }
     fprintf(stderr, "Shutting down spawn server loop complete.\n");
-    assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
+    fatal_assert(0 == uv_loop_close(loop));
 
     exit(0);
 }