diff --git a/lib/tests/run_tests.js b/lib/tests/run_tests.js
index 45f795c9..17872ff8 100644
--- a/lib/tests/run_tests.js
+++ b/lib/tests/run_tests.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ const async = require('async');
 const fs = require('fs-extra');
 const Mocha = require('mocha');
 const path = require('path');
+const assert = require('assert');
 const Test = require('./test');
 
 function getFilesFromDir(filePath, cb) {
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ module.exports = {
         // TODO put default config
         const test = new Test();
         global.embark = test;
+        global.assert = assert;
         global.config = test.config.bind(test);
 
         // TODO: this global here might not be necessary at all
diff --git a/test_apps/test_app/test/simple_storage_spec.js b/test_apps/test_app/test/simple_storage_spec.js
index 2fe59f7c..d0f97401 100644
--- a/test_apps/test_app/test/simple_storage_spec.js
+++ b/test_apps/test_app/test/simple_storage_spec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-/*global contract, config, it, embark*/
-const assert = require('assert');
+/*global contract, config, it, embark, assert*/
 const SimpleStorage = embark.require('Embark/contracts/SimpleStorage');
 
 config({