diff --git a/src/preamble.js b/src/preamble.js
index ad0d001507b72..cc60738319ef1 100644
--- a/src/preamble.js
+++ b/src/preamble.js
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ var ABORT = false;
 // but only when noExitRuntime is false.
 var EXITSTATUS;
 
+#if ASSERTIONS || !STRICT
+// In STRICT mode we only define assert() and ASSERTIONS is set.  i.e. we don't
+// define it at all in release modes.  This matches the behaviour of
+// MINIMAL_RUNTIME.
+// TODO(sbc): Make this the default even without STRICT.
 /** @type {function(*, string=)} */
 function assert(condition, text) {
   if (!condition) {
@@ -88,6 +93,7 @@ function assert(condition, text) {
 #endif
   }
 }
+#endif
 
 #if ASSERTIONS
 // We used to include malloc/free by default in the past. Show a helpful error in