diff --git a/src/assert.cc b/src/assert.cc
index 40e9f6b3..0c4e85f3 100644
--- a/src/assert.cc
+++ b/src/assert.cc
@@ -13,4 +13,16 @@ String assert_failed::description() const
     return m_message;
 }
 
+void on_assert_failed(const String& message)
+{
+    int res = system(("xmessage -buttons 'quit:0,ignore:1' '" + message + "'").c_str());
+    switch (res)
+    {
+    case 0:
+        throw assert_failed(message);
+    case 1:
+        return;
+    }
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/src/assert.hh b/src/assert.hh
index 975ddca1..0ec5db90 100644
--- a/src/assert.hh
+++ b/src/assert.hh
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ private:
     String m_message;
 };
 
+void on_assert_failed(const String& message);
+
 }
 
 #define STRINGIFY(X) #X
@@ -27,6 +29,6 @@ private:
 
 #define assert(condition) \
     if (not (condition)) \
-        throw assert_failed("assert failed \"" #condition "\" at " __FILE__ ":" TOSTRING(__LINE__))
+        on_assert_failed("assert failed \"" #condition "\" at " __FILE__ ":" TOSTRING(__LINE__))
 
 #endif // assert_hh_INCLUDED