diff --git a/examples/layer-shell.c b/examples/layer-shell.c
index 0aac08391..d24399e4a 100644
--- a/examples/layer-shell.c
+++ b/examples/layer-shell.c
@@ -431,11 +431,14 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	assert(cursor_theme = wl_cursor_theme_load(NULL, 16, shm));
+	cursor_theme = wl_cursor_theme_load(NULL, 16, shm);
+	assert(cursor_theme);
 	struct wl_cursor *cursor;
-	assert(cursor = wl_cursor_theme_get_cursor(cursor_theme, "crosshair"));
+	cursor = wl_cursor_theme_get_cursor(cursor_theme, "crosshair");
+	assert(cursor);
 	cursor_image = cursor->images[0];
-	assert(cursor_surface = wl_compositor_create_surface(compositor));
+	cursor_surface = wl_compositor_create_surface(compositor)
+	assert(cursor_surface);
 
 	EGLint attribs[] = { EGL_ALPHA_SIZE, 8, EGL_NONE };
 	wlr_egl_init(&egl, EGL_PLATFORM_WAYLAND_EXT, display,
diff --git a/rootston/main.c b/rootston/main.c
index d85701ca7..4f623d49e 100644
--- a/rootston/main.c
+++ b/rootston/main.c
@@ -28,9 +28,10 @@ static void ready(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	wlr_log_init(L_DEBUG, NULL);
-	assert(server.config = roots_config_create_from_args(argc, argv));
-	assert(server.wl_display = wl_display_create());
-	assert(server.wl_event_loop = wl_display_get_event_loop(server.wl_display));
+	server.config = roots_config_create_from_args(argc, argv);
+	server.wl_display = wl_display_create();
+	server.wl_event_loop = wl_display_get_event_loop(server.wl_display)
+	assert(server.config && server.wl_display && server.wl_event_loop);
 
 	server.backend = wlr_backend_autocreate(server.wl_display);
 	if (server.backend == NULL) {
@@ -38,7 +39,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 		return 1;
 	}
 
-	assert(server.renderer = wlr_backend_get_renderer(server.backend));
+	server.renderer = wlr_backend_get_renderer(server.backend);
+	assert(server.renderer);
 	server.data_device_manager =
 		wlr_data_device_manager_create(server.wl_display);
 	wl_display_init_shm(server.wl_display);