diff --git a/src/core/main.c b/src/core/main.c
index fba9a4a8ec..f347b74b11 100644
--- a/src/core/main.c
+++ b/src/core/main.c
@@ -2726,7 +2726,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         Manager *m = NULL;
         FDSet *fds = NULL;
 
-        assert(argc > 0 && !isempty(argv[0]));
+        assert_se(argc > 0 && !isempty(argv[0]));
 
         /* SysV compatibility: redirect init → telinit */
         redirect_telinit(argc, argv);
diff --git a/src/shared/main-func.h b/src/shared/main-func.h
index 09103bace9..81a5c1813c 100644
--- a/src/shared/main-func.h
+++ b/src/shared/main-func.h
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #define _DEFINE_MAIN_FUNCTION(intro, impl, ret)                         \
         int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {                              \
                 int r;                                                  \
-                assert(argc > 0 && !isempty(argv[0]));                  \
+                assert_se(argc > 0 && !isempty(argv[0]));               \
                 save_argc_argv(argc, argv);                             \
                 intro;                                                  \
                 r = impl;                                               \