diff --git a/canutils/libcanard/Makefile b/canutils/libcanard/Makefile
index b21a57e28..35756c3f2 100644
--- a/canutils/libcanard/Makefile
+++ b/canutils/libcanard/Makefile
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ LIBCANARD_DRVDIR = $(LIBCANARD_SRCDIR)$(DELIM)drivers$(DELIM)nuttx
 
 APPS_INCDIR = $(APPDIR)$(DELIM)include$(DELIM)canutils
 
-CFLAGS += -std=c99 -I$(APPS_INCDIR)
+CFLAGS += -std=c99 -I$(APPS_INCDIR) -DCANARD_ASSERT=DEBUGASSERT
 
 CSRCS = $(LIBCANARD_SRCDIR)$(DELIM)canard.c $(LIBCANARD_DRVDIR)$(DELIM)canard_nuttx.c
 COBJS = $(CSRCS:.c=$(OBJEXT))