diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index a46bb885e..a721e55e9 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ if( UNIX AND NOT APPLE )
 endif()
 ####
 
+# Enable Q_ASSERT etc. in all builds
+add_definitions( -DQT_FORCE_ASSERTS )
+
 include(GNUInstallDirs)
 include(DefineInstallationPaths)
 include(GenerateExportHeader)