diff --git a/src/libCom/osi/epicsThread.cpp b/src/libCom/osi/epicsThread.cpp
index 68437e164..acaa2ef6d 100644
--- a/src/libCom/osi/epicsThread.cpp
+++ b/src/libCom/osi/epicsThread.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,8 @@ void epicsThread::exit ()
 
 void epicsThread::exitWait () throw ()
 {
-    assert ( this->exitWait ( DBL_MAX ) );
+    bool success = this->exitWait ( DBL_MAX );
+    assert ( success );
 }
 
 bool epicsThread::exitWait ( const double delay ) throw ()