diff --git a/src/economy.test.c b/src/economy.test.c
index f734c0090..91d462770 100644
--- a/src/economy.test.c
+++ b/src/economy.test.c
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ static void test_steal_okay(CuTest * tc) {
     rc->flags = 0;
     setup_steal(&env, ter, rc);
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, NULL, msg = steal_message(env.u, 0));
-    msg_release(msg);
+    assert(!msg);
     test_teardown();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/give.test.c b/src/give.test.c
index fb5095f06..9c07c8cd0 100644
--- a/src/give.test.c
+++ b/src/give.test.c
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ static void test_give_men(CuTest * tc) {
     env.f2 = env.f1 = test_create_faction(NULL);
     setup_give(&env);
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, NULL, msg = give_men(1, env.src, env.dst, NULL));
-    msg_release(msg);
+    assert(!msg);
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 2, env.dst->number);
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, env.src->number);
     test_teardown();
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ static void test_give_men_too_many(CuTest * tc) {
     env.f2 = env.f1 = test_create_faction(NULL);
     setup_give(&env);
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, NULL, msg = give_men(2, env.src, env.dst, NULL));
-    msg_release(msg);
+    assert(!msg);
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 2, env.dst->number);
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, 0, env.src->number);
     test_teardown();
diff --git a/src/kernel/messages.test.c b/src/kernel/messages.test.c
index f068f66e7..3c9c684c6 100644
--- a/src/kernel/messages.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/messages.test.c
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #include <CuTest.h>
 #include <tests.h>
 
+#include <assert.h>
+
 void test_missing_message(CuTest *tc) {
     message *msg;
 
@@ -87,9 +89,9 @@ static void test_noerror(CuTest *tc) {
     CuAssertIntEquals(tc, K_MOVE | CMD_QUIET | CMD_PERSIST,  u->thisorder->command);
     CuAssertTrue(tc, !is_persistent(u->thisorder));
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, NULL, msg = msg_error(u, u->thisorder, 100));
-    msg_release(msg);
+    assert(!msg);
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, NULL, msg = msg_feedback(u, u->thisorder, "error_unit_not_found", NULL));
-    msg_release(msg);
+    assert(!msg);
     test_teardown();
 }