diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index ab7f5ffca..0ef61547d 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ env:
    - JOBS=4
    - CCACHE_VERSION=3.3.1
    - CMAKE_VERSION=3.6.2
+   - ENABLE_ASSERTIONS=ON
 
 matrix:
   fast_finish: true
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ install:
   - export OSRM_BUILD_DIR="$(pwd)/build-osrm"
   - mkdir ${OSRM_BUILD_DIR} && pushd ${OSRM_BUILD_DIR}
   - export CC=${CCOMPILER} CXX=${CXXCOMPILER}
-  - cmake .. -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${BUILD_TYPE} -DENABLE_MASON=${ENABLE_MASON:-OFF} -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS:-OFF} -DENABLE_COVERAGE=${ENABLE_COVERAGE:-OFF} -DENABLE_SANITIZER=${ENABLE_SANITIZER:-OFF} -DBUILD_TOOLS=ON -DBUILD_COMPONENTS=${BUILD_COMPONENTS:-OFF} -DENABLE_CCACHE=ON
+  - cmake .. -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${BUILD_TYPE} -DENABLE_MASON=${ENABLE_MASON:-OFF} -DENABLE_ASSERTIONS=${ENABLE_ASSERTIONS:-OFF} -DBUILD_SHARED_LIBS=${BUILD_SHARED_LIBS:-OFF} -DENABLE_COVERAGE=${ENABLE_COVERAGE:-OFF} -DENABLE_SANITIZER=${ENABLE_SANITIZER:-OFF} -DBUILD_TOOLS=ON -DBUILD_COMPONENTS=${BUILD_COMPONENTS:-OFF} -DENABLE_CCACHE=ON
   - echo "travis_fold:start:MAKE"
   - make osrm-extract --jobs=3
   - make --jobs=${JOBS}