diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 35e211a9d7b..0427368e70d 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 #include <txdb.h>
 #include <txmempool.h>
 #include <util/asmap.h>
+#include <util/check.h>
 #include <util/moneystr.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
 #include <util/system.h>
@@ -1378,9 +1379,9 @@ bool AppInitMain(const util::Ref& context, NodeContext& node)
     node.mempool = &::mempool;
     assert(!node.chainman);
     node.chainman = &g_chainman;
-    ChainstateManager& chainman = EnsureChainman(node);
+    ChainstateManager& chainman = *Assert(node.chainman);
 
-    node.peer_logic.reset(new PeerLogicValidation(node.connman.get(), node.banman.get(), *node.scheduler, *node.chainman, *node.mempool));
+    node.peer_logic.reset(new PeerLogicValidation(node.connman.get(), node.banman.get(), *node.scheduler, chainman, *node.mempool));
     RegisterValidationInterface(node.peer_logic.get());
 
     // sanitize comments per BIP-0014, format user agent and check total size
diff --git a/src/net_processing.cpp b/src/net_processing.cpp
index 80e58a6dbac..e3053869ae9 100644
--- a/src/net_processing.cpp
+++ b/src/net_processing.cpp
@@ -13,10 +13,9 @@
 #include <consensus/validation.h>
 #include <hash.h>
 #include <index/blockfilterindex.h>
-#include <validation.h>
 #include <merkleblock.h>
-#include <netmessagemaker.h>
 #include <netbase.h>
+#include <netmessagemaker.h>
 #include <policy/fees.h>
 #include <policy/policy.h>
 #include <primitives/block.h>
@@ -26,16 +25,14 @@
 #include <scheduler.h>
 #include <tinyformat.h>
 #include <txmempool.h>
-#include <util/system.h>
+#include <util/check.h> // For NDEBUG compile time check
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
+#include <util/system.h>
+#include <validation.h>
 
 #include <memory>
 #include <typeinfo>
 
-#if defined(NDEBUG)
-# error "Bitcoin cannot be compiled without assertions."
-#endif
-
 /** Expiration time for orphan transactions in seconds */
 static constexpr int64_t ORPHAN_TX_EXPIRE_TIME = 20 * 60;
 /** Minimum time between orphan transactions expire time checks in seconds */
diff --git a/src/node/context.h b/src/node/context.h
index c45d9e66893..c783c39cd64 100644
--- a/src/node/context.h
+++ b/src/node/context.h
@@ -49,10 +49,4 @@ struct NodeContext {
     ~NodeContext();
 };
 
-inline ChainstateManager& EnsureChainman(const NodeContext& node)
-{
-    assert(node.chainman);
-    return *node.chainman;
-}
-
 #endif // BITCOIN_NODE_CONTEXT_H
diff --git a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
index 6250ca918ad..630a8b463f9 100644
--- a/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/blockchain.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,10 @@ CTxMemPool& EnsureMemPool(const util::Ref& context)
 ChainstateManager& EnsureChainman(const util::Ref& context)
 {
     NodeContext& node = EnsureNodeContext(context);
-    return EnsureChainman(node);
+    if (!node.chainman) {
+        throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INTERNAL_ERROR, "Node chainman not found");
+    }
+    return *node.chainman;
 }
 
 /* Calculate the difficulty for a given block index.
diff --git a/src/test/blockfilter_index_tests.cpp b/src/test/blockfilter_index_tests.cpp
index 7dff2e6e869..00c4bdc14ef 100644
--- a/src/test/blockfilter_index_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/blockfilter_index_tests.cpp
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ bool BuildChainTestingSetup::BuildChain(const CBlockIndex* pindex,
         CBlockHeader header = block->GetBlockHeader();
 
         BlockValidationState state;
-        if (!EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlockHeaders({header}, state, Params(), &pindex)) {
+        if (!Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlockHeaders({header}, state, Params(), &pindex)) {
             return false;
         }
     }
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE(blockfilter_index_initial_sync, BuildChainTestingSetup)
     uint256 chainA_last_header = last_header;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
         const auto& block = chainA[i];
-        BOOST_REQUIRE(EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, nullptr));
+        BOOST_REQUIRE(Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, nullptr));
     }
     for (size_t i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
         const auto& block = chainA[i];
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE(blockfilter_index_initial_sync, BuildChainTestingSetup)
     uint256 chainB_last_header = last_header;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
         const auto& block = chainB[i];
-        BOOST_REQUIRE(EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, nullptr));
+        BOOST_REQUIRE(Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, nullptr));
     }
     for (size_t i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
         const auto& block = chainB[i];
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE(blockfilter_index_initial_sync, BuildChainTestingSetup)
     // Reorg back to chain A.
      for (size_t i = 2; i < 4; i++) {
          const auto& block = chainA[i];
-         BOOST_REQUIRE(EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, nullptr));
+         BOOST_REQUIRE(Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, nullptr));
      }
 
      // Check that chain A and B blocks can be retrieved.
diff --git a/src/test/miner_tests.cpp b/src/test/miner_tests.cpp
index 11ff7b833bf..62a0dc42413 100644
--- a/src/test/miner_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/miner_tests.cpp
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(CreateNewBlock_validity)
             pblock->nNonce = blockinfo[i].nonce;
         }
         std::shared_ptr<const CBlock> shared_pblock = std::make_shared<const CBlock>(*pblock);
-        BOOST_CHECK(EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlock(chainparams, shared_pblock, true, nullptr));
+        BOOST_CHECK(Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlock(chainparams, shared_pblock, true, nullptr));
         pblock->hashPrevBlock = pblock->GetHash();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/test/util/mining.cpp b/src/test/util/mining.cpp
index dac7f1a07b8..74536ae74ce 100644
--- a/src/test/util/mining.cpp
+++ b/src/test/util/mining.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <node/context.h>
 #include <pow.h>
 #include <script/standard.h>
+#include <util/check.h>
 #include <validation.h>
 
 CTxIn generatetoaddress(const NodeContext& node, const std::string& address)
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ CTxIn MineBlock(const NodeContext& node, const CScript& coinbase_scriptPubKey)
         assert(block->nNonce);
     }
 
-    bool processed{EnsureChainman(node).ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, nullptr)};
+    bool processed{Assert(node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, nullptr)};
     assert(processed);
 
     return CTxIn{block->vtx[0]->GetHash(), 0};
@@ -39,9 +40,8 @@ CTxIn MineBlock(const NodeContext& node, const CScript& coinbase_scriptPubKey)
 
 std::shared_ptr<CBlock> PrepareBlock(const NodeContext& node, const CScript& coinbase_scriptPubKey)
 {
-    assert(node.mempool);
     auto block = std::make_shared<CBlock>(
-        BlockAssembler{*node.mempool, Params()}
+        BlockAssembler{*Assert(node.mempool), Params()}
             .CreateNewBlock(coinbase_scriptPubKey)
             ->block);
 
diff --git a/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp b/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp
index 1efcdc1d6ef..24c0d6382b7 100644
--- a/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp
+++ b/src/test/util/setup_common.cpp
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ CBlock TestChain100Setup::CreateAndProcessBlock(const std::vector<CMutableTransa
     while (!CheckProofOfWork(block.GetHash(), block.nBits, chainparams.GetConsensus())) ++block.nNonce;
 
     std::shared_ptr<const CBlock> shared_pblock = std::make_shared<const CBlock>(block);
-    EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlock(chainparams, shared_pblock, true, nullptr);
+    Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlock(chainparams, shared_pblock, true, nullptr);
 
     CBlock result = block;
     return result;
diff --git a/src/test/util/setup_common.h b/src/test/util/setup_common.h
index e480782c12c..78b279e42a5 100644
--- a/src/test/util/setup_common.h
+++ b/src/test/util/setup_common.h
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <pubkey.h>
 #include <random.h>
 #include <txmempool.h>
+#include <util/check.h>
 #include <util/string.h>
 
 #include <type_traits>
diff --git a/src/test/validation_block_tests.cpp b/src/test/validation_block_tests.cpp
index 45e0c5484e3..8e85b7df3ee 100644
--- a/src/test/validation_block_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/validation_block_tests.cpp
@@ -163,10 +163,10 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(processnewblock_signals_ordering)
     std::transform(blocks.begin(), blocks.end(), std::back_inserter(headers), [](std::shared_ptr<const CBlock> b) { return b->GetBlockHeader(); });
 
     // Process all the headers so we understand the toplogy of the chain
-    BOOST_CHECK(EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlockHeaders(headers, state, Params()));
+    BOOST_CHECK(Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlockHeaders(headers, state, Params()));
 
     // Connect the genesis block and drain any outstanding events
-    BOOST_CHECK(EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlock(Params(), std::make_shared<CBlock>(Params().GenesisBlock()), true, &ignored));
+    BOOST_CHECK(Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlock(Params(), std::make_shared<CBlock>(Params().GenesisBlock()), true, &ignored));
     SyncWithValidationInterfaceQueue();
 
     // subscribe to events (this subscriber will validate event ordering)
@@ -188,13 +188,13 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(processnewblock_signals_ordering)
             FastRandomContext insecure;
             for (int i = 0; i < 1000; i++) {
                 auto block = blocks[insecure.randrange(blocks.size() - 1)];
-                EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, &ignored);
+                Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, &ignored);
             }
 
             // to make sure that eventually we process the full chain - do it here
             for (auto block : blocks) {
                 if (block->vtx.size() == 1) {
-                    bool processed = EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, &ignored);
+                    bool processed = Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, true, &ignored);
                     assert(processed);
                 }
             }
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(mempool_locks_reorg)
 {
     bool ignored;
     auto ProcessBlock = [&](std::shared_ptr<const CBlock> block) -> bool {
-        return EnsureChainman(m_node).ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, /* fForceProcessing */ true, /* fNewBlock */ &ignored);
+        return Assert(m_node.chainman)->ProcessNewBlock(Params(), block, /* fForceProcessing */ true, /* fNewBlock */ &ignored);
     };
 
     // Process all mined blocks
diff --git a/src/util/check.h b/src/util/check.h
index 5c0f32cf519..3d534fd33e0 100644
--- a/src/util/check.h
+++ b/src/util/check.h
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class NonFatalCheckError : public std::runtime_error
  * - where the condition is assumed to be true, not for error handling or validating user input
  * - where a failure to fulfill the condition is recoverable and does not abort the program
  *
- * For example in RPC code, where it is undersirable to crash the whole program, this can be generally used to replace
+ * For example in RPC code, where it is undesirable to crash the whole program, this can be generally used to replace
  * asserts or recoverable logic errors. A NonFatalCheckError in RPC code is caught and passed as a string to the RPC
  * caller, which can then report the issue to the developers.
  */
@@ -42,4 +42,18 @@ class NonFatalCheckError : public std::runtime_error
         }                                                         \
     } while (false)
 
+#if defined(NDEBUG)
+#error "Cannot compile without assertions!"
+#endif
+
+/** Helper for Assert(). TODO remove in C++14 and replace `decltype(get_pure_r_value(val))` with `T` (templated lambda) */
+template <typename T>
+T get_pure_r_value(T&& val)
+{
+    return std::forward<T>(val);
+}
+
+/** Identity function. Abort if the value compares equal to zero */
+#define Assert(val) [&]() -> decltype(get_pure_r_value(val))& { auto& check = (val); assert(#val && check); return check; }()
+
 #endif // BITCOIN_UTIL_CHECK_H
diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index 4871a631dc4..f28b2a4c82c 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #include <txmempool.h>
 #include <uint256.h>
 #include <undo.h>
+#include <util/check.h> // For NDEBUG compile time check
 #include <util/moneystr.h>
 #include <util/rbf.h>
 #include <util/strencodings.h>
@@ -51,10 +52,6 @@
 
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/replace.hpp>
 
-#if defined(NDEBUG)
-# error "Bitcoin cannot be compiled without assertions."
-#endif
-
 #define MICRO 0.000001
 #define MILLI 0.001
 
diff --git a/src/wallet/test/wallet_tests.cpp b/src/wallet/test/wallet_tests.cpp
index 4ecb1124b58..5c565a3d383 100644
--- a/src/wallet/test/wallet_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/test/wallet_tests.cpp
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE(scan_for_wallet_transactions, TestChain100Setup)
     // Prune the older block file.
     {
         LOCK(cs_main);
-        EnsureChainman(m_node).PruneOneBlockFile(oldTip->GetBlockPos().nFile);
+        Assert(m_node.chainman)->PruneOneBlockFile(oldTip->GetBlockPos().nFile);
     }
     UnlinkPrunedFiles({oldTip->GetBlockPos().nFile});
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE(scan_for_wallet_transactions, TestChain100Setup)
     // Prune the remaining block file.
     {
         LOCK(cs_main);
-        EnsureChainman(m_node).PruneOneBlockFile(newTip->GetBlockPos().nFile);
+        Assert(m_node.chainman)->PruneOneBlockFile(newTip->GetBlockPos().nFile);
     }
     UnlinkPrunedFiles({newTip->GetBlockPos().nFile});
 
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ BOOST_FIXTURE_TEST_CASE(importmulti_rescan, TestChain100Setup)
     // Prune the older block file.
     {
         LOCK(cs_main);
-        EnsureChainman(m_node).PruneOneBlockFile(oldTip->GetBlockPos().nFile);
+        Assert(m_node.chainman)->PruneOneBlockFile(oldTip->GetBlockPos().nFile);
     }
     UnlinkPrunedFiles({oldTip->GetBlockPos().nFile});
 
diff --git a/test/lint/lint-assertions.sh b/test/lint/lint-assertions.sh
index 1aacc09bcc6..d30a8ca231a 100755
--- a/test/lint/lint-assertions.sh
+++ b/test/lint/lint-assertions.sh
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ fi
 # Macro CHECK_NONFATAL(condition) should be used instead of assert for RPC code, where it
 # is undesirable to crash the whole program. See: src/util/check.h
 # src/rpc/server.cpp is excluded from this check since it's mostly meta-code.
-OUTPUT=$(git grep -nE 'assert *\(.*\);' -- "src/rpc/" "src/wallet/rpc*" ":(exclude)src/rpc/server.cpp")
+OUTPUT=$(git grep -nE '\<(A|a)ssert *\(.*\);' -- "src/rpc/" "src/wallet/rpc*" ":(exclude)src/rpc/server.cpp")
 if [[ ${OUTPUT} != "" ]]; then
     echo "CHECK_NONFATAL(condition) should be used instead of assert for RPC code."
     echo