diff --git a/core/assert.c b/core/assert.c
index 873634467d..853623d6b7 100644
--- a/core/assert.c
+++ b/core/assert.c
@@ -16,15 +16,17 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #include "assert.h"
+#include "panic.h"
 
-#ifdef DEBUG_ASSERT_VERBOSE
-NORETURN void _assert_failure(const char *file, unsigned line)
+__NORETURN void _assert_failure(const char *file, unsigned line)
 {
-    printf("%s:%u => ", file, line); \
-    core_panic(PANIC_ASSERT_FAIL, assert_crash_message); \
+    printf("%s:%u => ", file, line);
+    core_panic(PANIC_ASSERT_FAIL, "FAILED ASSERTION.");
+}
+
+__NORETURN void _assert_panic(void)
+{
+    core_panic(PANIC_ASSERT_FAIL, "FAILED ASSERTION.");
 }
-#else
-typedef int dont_be_pedantic;
-#endif
 
 /** @} */
diff --git a/core/include/assert.h b/core/include/assert.h
index bbfd8e35e7..4d8664bada 100644
--- a/core/include/assert.h
+++ b/core/include/assert.h
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@
 #ifndef ASSERT_H
 #define ASSERT_H
 
-#include "panic.h"
-
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
 #endif
@@ -51,9 +49,18 @@ extern "C" {
 #endif
 
 /**
- * @brief   the string that is passed to panic in case of a failing assertion
- */
-extern const char assert_crash_message[];
+ * @def __NORETURN
+ * @internal
+ * Duplicating the definitions of kernel_defines.h as these are unsuitable for
+ * system header files like the assert.h.
+ * kernel_defines.h would define symbols that are not reserved. */
+#ifndef __NORETURN
+#ifdef __GNUC__
+#define __NORETURN __attribute__((noreturn))
+#else /*__GNUC__*/
+#define __NORETURN
+#endif /*__GNUC__*/
+#endif /*__NORETURN*/
 
 #ifdef NDEBUG
 #define assert(ignore)((void)0)
@@ -68,8 +75,7 @@ extern const char assert_crash_message[];
  * @param[in] file  The file name of the file the assertion failed in
  * @param[in] line  The code line of @p file the assertion failed in
  */
-NORETURN void _assert_failure(const char *file, unsigned line);
-
+__NORETURN void _assert_failure(const char *file, unsigned line);
 /**
  * @brief    abort the program if assertion is false
  *
@@ -103,10 +109,10 @@ NORETURN void _assert_failure(const char *file, unsigned line);
  */
 #define assert(cond) ((cond) ? (void)0 :  _assert_failure(RIOT_FILE_RELATIVE, \
                                                           __LINE__))
-#else
-#define assert(cond) ((cond) ? (void)0 : core_panic(PANIC_ASSERT_FAIL, \
-                                                    assert_crash_message))
-#endif
+#else /* DEBUG_ASSERT_VERBOSE */
+__NORETURN void _assert_panic(void);
+#define assert(cond) ((cond) ? (void)0 : _assert_panic())
+#endif /* DEBUG_ASSERT_VERBOSE */
 
 #if !defined __cplusplus
 #if __STDC_VERSION__ >= 201112L
diff --git a/core/panic.c b/core/panic.c
index 6f04d79481..5ccef7410f 100644
--- a/core/panic.c
+++ b/core/panic.c
@@ -43,8 +43,6 @@
 #include "usb_board_reset.h"
 #endif
 
-const char assert_crash_message[] = "FAILED ASSERTION.";
-
 /* flag preventing "recursive crash printing loop" */
 static int crashed = 0;