diff --git a/tests/unit-tests/ndebug.cpp b/tests/unit-tests/ndebug.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b9598c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit-tests/ndebug.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2013-2014 Regents of the University of California.
+ *
+ * This file is part of ndn-cxx library (NDN C++ library with eXperimental eXtensions).
+ *
+ * ndn-cxx library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+ * terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software
+ * Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * ndn-cxx library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
+ * WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
+ * PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received copies of the GNU General Public License and GNU Lesser
+ * General Public License along with ndn-cxx, e.g., in COPYING.md file.  If not, see
+ * <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ * See AUTHORS.md for complete list of ndn-cxx authors and contributors.
+ */
+
+#include "common.hpp"
+
+#include "boost-test.hpp"
+
+namespace ndn {
+namespace tests {
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE(TestNdebug)
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(AssertFalse)
+{
+#ifndef NDN_CXX__DEBUG
+  // in release builds, assertion shouldn't execute
+  BOOST_ASSERT(false);
+#endif
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(SideEffect)
+{
+  int a = 1;
+  BOOST_ASSERT((a = 2) > 0);
+#ifdef NDN_CXX__DEBUG
+  BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(a, 2);
+#else
+  BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(a, 1);
+#endif
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()
+
+} // namespace tests
+} // namespace ndn
diff --git a/wscript b/wscript
index 3d806d2..2c62c5e 100644
--- a/wscript
+++ b/wscript
@@ -89,6 +89,12 @@
 
     conf.write_config_header('src/ndn-cxx-config.hpp', define_prefix='NDN_CXX_')
 
+    # disable assertions in release builds
+    # This must appear after write_config_header, because otherwise all projects
+    # using a ndn-cxx release build would be compiled without assertions.
+    if not conf.options.debug:
+        conf.define('NDEBUG', 1)
+
 def build(bld):
     version(bld)