diff --git a/error_sdr/error_sdr.h b/error_sdr/error_sdr.h
index b0a907e..2516e7d 100644
--- a/error_sdr/error_sdr.h
+++ b/error_sdr/error_sdr.h
@@ -140,7 +140,26 @@ typedef struct TEXT_MESSAGE
 * 		Checks condition, if false calls error_fail_fast with error            *
 *                                                                              *
 *******************************************************************************/
-#define assert_fail_fast( condition, error ) if ( !condition ) error_fail_fast( error )
+#define assert_fail_fast( condition, error ) do { if ( !(condition) ) error_fail_fast( error ); } while(0)
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+*                                                                              *
+* MACRO:                                                                       * 
+*       debug_assert                                                           *
+*                                                                              *
+* DESCRIPTION:                                                                 *
+* 		Checks condition, if false calls error_fail_fast with error. Debug     *
+*       builds only -- release builds will do nothing.                         *
+*                                                                              *
+*******************************************************************************/
+#if defined(DEBUG) || !defined(RELBLD)
+    #define debug_assert( condition, error ) \
+        do { if ( !(condition) ) error_fail_fast( error ); } while(0)
+#else
+    #define debug_assert( condition, error ) \
+        do { } while(0)
+#endif
 
 
 /*------------------------------------------------------------------------------