diff --git a/src/suricata-common.h b/src/suricata-common.h
index 0d7b691ddd..4bee62b026 100644
--- a/src/suricata-common.h
+++ b/src/suricata-common.h
@@ -202,12 +202,16 @@
 #endif
 #endif /* !__CYGWIN__ */
 
+#if CPPCHECK==1
+#define BUG_ON(x) if (((x))) exit(1)
+#else
 #ifdef HAVE_ASSERT_H
 #include <assert.h>
 #define BUG_ON(x) assert(!(x))
 #else
 #define BUG_ON(x)
 #endif
+#endif
 
 /* we need this to stringify the defines which are supplied at compiletime see:
    http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc-3.4.1/cpp/Stringification.html#Stringification */