diff --git a/src/runtime2/runtime.rs b/src/runtime2/runtime.rs
index f3c46ebbe11ba125623ae42974df250a3e758ddc..38fb4285d79bbf01c669157a3708ecefd83826a0 100644
--- a/src/runtime2/runtime.rs
+++ b/src/runtime2/runtime.rs
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ impl CompHandle {
 
     /// Returns the `CompKey` to the component if it should be destroyed
     pub(crate) fn decrement_users(&mut self) -> Option<CompKey> {
-        debug_assert!(!self.decremented, "illegal to 'decrement_users' twice");
+        dbg_code!(assert!(self.decremented, "illegal to 'decrement_users' twice"));
         let old_count = self.num_handles.fetch_sub(1, Ordering::AcqRel);
         let new_count = old_count - 1;
         dbg_code!(self.decremented = true);
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ impl CompHandle {
 
 impl Clone for CompHandle {
     fn clone(&self) -> Self {
-        debug_assert!(!self.decremented, "illegal to clone after 'decrement_users'");
+        dbg_code!(assert!(!self.decremented, "illegal to clone after 'decrement_users'"));
         self.increment_users();
         return CompHandle{
             target: self.target,
@@ -137,14 +137,14 @@ impl std::ops::Deref for CompHandle {
     type Target = CompPublic;
 
     fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
-        debug_assert!(!self.decremented); // cannot access if control is relinquished
+        dbg_code!(assert!(!self.decremented)); // cannot access if control is relinquished
         return unsafe{ &*self.target };
     }
 }
 
 impl Drop for CompHandle {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
-        debug_assert!(self.decremented, "need call to 'decrement_users' before dropping");
+        dbg_code!(assert!(self.decremented, "need call to 'decrement_users' before dropping"));
     }
 }