diff --git a/libs/libc/assert/lib_assert.c b/libs/libc/assert/lib_assert.c
index 5ff55c86a3..97bb7517b5 100644
--- a/libs/libc/assert/lib_assert.c
+++ b/libs/libc/assert/lib_assert.c
@@ -27,6 +27,16 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Pre-processor Definitions
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+/* If assert() is called from kernel, must not call user API abort */
+
+#ifdef __KERNEL__
+#  define abort PANIC
+#endif
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * Public Functions
  ****************************************************************************/
@@ -34,5 +44,5 @@
 void __assert(FAR const char *filename, int linenum, FAR const char *msg)
 {
   _assert(filename, linenum, msg);
-  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+  abort();
 }