diff --git a/src/kernel/messages.c b/src/kernel/messages.c
index 330c2feeb..ecdc588a8 100644
--- a/src/kernel/messages.c
+++ b/src/kernel/messages.c
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ message *msg_message(const char *name, const char *sig, ...)
         }
         else {
             log_error("invalid parameter %s for message type %s\n", paramname, mtype->name);
+            assert(!"invalid parameter for message type");
         }
         while (*ic && !isalnum(*ic))
             ic++;
@@ -201,6 +202,7 @@ message *msg_message(const char *name, const char *sig, ...)
     va_end(vargs);
     if (argnum !=  mtype->nparameters) {
         log_error("not enough parameters for message type %s\n", mtype->name);
+        assert(!"not enough parameters for message type");
     }
 
     return msg_create(mtype, args);