diff --git a/configure/CONFIG_SITE_ENV b/configure/CONFIG_SITE_ENV
index bacbc14a5..bcc3bdf7a 100644
--- a/configure/CONFIG_SITE_ENV
+++ b/configure/CONFIG_SITE_ENV
@@ -92,3 +92,6 @@ EPICS_IOC_LOG_FILE_NAME=
 EPICS_IOC_LOG_FILE_COMMAND=
 EPICS_IOC_LOG_FILE_LIMIT=1000000
 
+# Set to 'YES' to call abort() rather than suspend the current thread
+# when an assert() fails
+EPICS_ABORT_ON_ASSERT=NO
diff --git a/modules/libcom/src/env/envDefs.h b/modules/libcom/src/env/envDefs.h
index 3bf64c861..c54a781c7 100644
--- a/modules/libcom/src/env/envDefs.h
+++ b/modules/libcom/src/env/envDefs.h
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ LIBCOM_API extern const ENV_PARAM EPICS_IOC_LOG_FILE_COMMAND;
 LIBCOM_API extern const ENV_PARAM IOCSH_PS1;
 LIBCOM_API extern const ENV_PARAM IOCSH_HISTSIZE;
 LIBCOM_API extern const ENV_PARAM IOCSH_HISTEDIT_DISABLE;
+LIBCOM_API extern const ENV_PARAM EPICS_ABORT_ON_ASSERT;
 LIBCOM_API extern const ENV_PARAM *env_param_list[];
 
 struct in_addr;
diff --git a/modules/libcom/src/osi/os/default/osdAssert.c b/modules/libcom/src/osi/os/default/osdAssert.c
index 2d62bc820..23263df4e 100644
--- a/modules/libcom/src/osi/os/default/osdAssert.c
+++ b/modules/libcom/src/osi/os/default/osdAssert.c
@@ -20,12 +20,14 @@
 #include "epicsTime.h"
 #include "cantProceed.h"
 #include "epicsStackTrace.h"
+#include "envDefs.h"
 
 
 void epicsAssert (const char *pFile, const unsigned line,
     const char *pExp, const char *pAuthorName)
 {
     epicsTimeStamp current;
+    int shouldAbort = 0;
 
     errlogPrintf("\n\n\n"
         "A call to 'assert(%s)'\n"
@@ -50,6 +52,13 @@ void epicsAssert (const char *pFile, const unsigned line,
     errlogPrintf("Please E-mail this message to %s or to tech-talk@aps.anl.gov\n",
         pAuthorName);
 
-    errlogPrintf("Calling epicsThreadSuspendSelf()\n");
-    epicsThreadSuspendSelf ();
+    if (envGetBoolConfigParam(&EPICS_ABORT_ON_ASSERT, &shouldAbort) == 0 && shouldAbort) {
+        errlogPrintf("Calling abort()\n");
+        errlogFlush();
+        abort();
+    }
+    else {
+        errlogPrintf("Calling epicsThreadSuspendSelf()\n");
+        epicsThreadSuspendSelf ();
+    }
 }