diff --git a/include/osmocom/core/utils.h b/include/osmocom/core/utils.h
index 7625da167..182da08de 100644
--- a/include/osmocom/core/utils.h
+++ b/include/osmocom/core/utils.h
@@ -111,9 +111,11 @@ do {								\
  *  the predicate evaluates to false (0).
  */
 #define OSMO_ASSERT(exp)    \
+do { \
 	if (!(exp)) { \
 		osmo_panic("Assert failed %s %s:%d\n", #exp, __FILE__, __LINE__); \
-	}
+	} \
+} while (0); /* some code invokes OSMO_ASSERT() without the semicolon */
 
 /*! duplicate a string using talloc and release its prior content (if any)
  * \param[in] ctx Talloc context to use for allocation