diff --git a/app/src/control_msg.c b/app/src/control_msg.c
index 363483eb..fda16025 100644
--- a/app/src/control_msg.c
+++ b/app/src/control_msg.c
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "control_msg.h"
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <string.h>
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
 #include "util/buffer_util.h"
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ write_string(const char *utf8, size_t max_len, unsigned char *buf) {
 
 static uint16_t
 to_fixed_point_16(float f) {
-    SDL_assert(f >= 0.0f && f <= 1.0f);
+    assert(f >= 0.0f && f <= 1.0f);
     uint32_t u = f * 0x1p16f; // 2^16
     if (u >= 0xffff) {
         u = 0xffff;
diff --git a/app/src/controller.c b/app/src/controller.c
index ec706c95..d59a7411 100644
--- a/app/src/controller.c
+++ b/app/src/controller.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "controller.h"
 
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
+#include <assert.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
 #include "util/lock.h"
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ run_controller(void *data) {
         }
         struct control_msg msg;
         bool non_empty = cbuf_take(&controller->queue, &msg);
-        SDL_assert(non_empty);
+        assert(non_empty);
+        (void) non_empty;
         mutex_unlock(controller->mutex);
 
         bool ok = process_msg(controller, &msg);
diff --git a/app/src/decoder.c b/app/src/decoder.c
index 52176484..5ac6cd44 100644
--- a/app/src/decoder.c
+++ b/app/src/decoder.c
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 #include <libavformat/avformat.h>
 #include <libavutil/time.h>
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL_events.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL_mutex.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL_thread.h>
diff --git a/app/src/device_msg.c b/app/src/device_msg.c
index aba56bb3..db176129 100644
--- a/app/src/device_msg.c
+++ b/app/src/device_msg.c
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #include "device_msg.h"
 
 #include <string.h>
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
 #include "util/buffer_util.h"
diff --git a/app/src/file_handler.c b/app/src/file_handler.c
index c0b03bcf..ba689404 100644
--- a/app/src/file_handler.c
+++ b/app/src/file_handler.c
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "file_handler.h"
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <string.h>
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
 #include "command.h"
@@ -120,7 +120,8 @@ run_file_handler(void *data) {
         }
         struct file_handler_request req;
         bool non_empty = cbuf_take(&file_handler->queue, &req);
-        SDL_assert(non_empty);
+        assert(non_empty);
+        (void) non_empty;
 
         process_t process;
         if (req.action == ACTION_INSTALL_APK) {
diff --git a/app/src/fps_counter.c b/app/src/fps_counter.c
index 0c3f13d4..58c62d55 100644
--- a/app/src/fps_counter.c
+++ b/app/src/fps_counter.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "fps_counter.h"
 
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL_timer.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ run_fps_counter(void *data) {
             uint32_t now = SDL_GetTicks();
             check_interval_expired(counter, now);
 
-            SDL_assert(counter->next_timestamp > now);
+            assert(counter->next_timestamp > now);
             uint32_t remaining = counter->next_timestamp - now;
 
             // ignore the reason (timeout or signaled), we just loop anyway
diff --git a/app/src/input_manager.c b/app/src/input_manager.c
index e0aa6054..013fb640 100644
--- a/app/src/input_manager.c
+++ b/app/src/input_manager.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "input_manager.h"
 
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
+#include <assert.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
 #include "event_converter.h"
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ input_manager_process_text_input(struct input_manager *im,
     if (!im->prefer_text) {
         char c = event->text[0];
         if (isalpha(c) || c == ' ') {
-            SDL_assert(event->text[1] == '\0');
+            assert(event->text[1] == '\0');
             // letters and space are handled as raw key event
             return;
         }
diff --git a/app/src/receiver.c b/app/src/receiver.c
index 33bbf8b5..0474ff55 100644
--- a/app/src/receiver.c
+++ b/app/src/receiver.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "receiver.h"
 
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL_clipboard.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ process_msgs(const unsigned char *buf, size_t len) {
         device_msg_destroy(&msg);
 
         head += r;
-        SDL_assert(head <= len);
+        assert(head <= len);
         if (head == len) {
             return head;
         }
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ run_receiver(void *data) {
     size_t head = 0;
 
     for (;;) {
-        SDL_assert(head < DEVICE_MSG_SERIALIZED_MAX_SIZE);
+        assert(head < DEVICE_MSG_SERIALIZED_MAX_SIZE);
         ssize_t r = net_recv(receiver->control_socket, buf,
                              DEVICE_MSG_SERIALIZED_MAX_SIZE - head);
         if (r <= 0) {
diff --git a/app/src/recorder.c b/app/src/recorder.c
index b5314daf..465b24e8 100644
--- a/app/src/recorder.c
+++ b/app/src/recorder.c
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "recorder.h"
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <libavutil/time.h>
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
 #include "compat.h"
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ recorder_get_format_name(enum recorder_format format) {
 bool
 recorder_open(struct recorder *recorder, const AVCodec *input_codec) {
     const char *format_name = recorder_get_format_name(recorder->format);
-    SDL_assert(format_name);
+    assert(format_name);
     const AVOutputFormat *format = find_muxer(format_name);
     if (!format) {
         LOGE("Could not find muxer");
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ recorder_join(struct recorder *recorder) {
 bool
 recorder_push(struct recorder *recorder, const AVPacket *packet) {
     mutex_lock(recorder->mutex);
-    SDL_assert(!recorder->stopped);
+    assert(!recorder->stopped);
 
     if (recorder->failed) {
         // reject any new packet (this will stop the stream)
diff --git a/app/src/screen.c b/app/src/screen.c
index 5c1fdab3..beb10754 100644
--- a/app/src/screen.c
+++ b/app/src/screen.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "screen.h"
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL.h>
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ get_optimal_size(struct size current_size, struct size frame_size) {
     }
 
     // w and h must fit into 16 bits
-    SDL_assert_release(w < 0x10000 && h < 0x10000);
+    assert(w < 0x10000 && h < 0x10000);
     return (struct size) {w, h};
 }
 
@@ -392,8 +393,8 @@ screen_handle_window_event(struct screen *screen,
             break;
         case SDL_WINDOWEVENT_MAXIMIZED:
             // The backup size must be non-nul.
-            SDL_assert(screen->windowed_window_size_backup.width);
-            SDL_assert(screen->windowed_window_size_backup.height);
+            assert(screen->windowed_window_size_backup.width);
+            assert(screen->windowed_window_size_backup.height);
             // Revert the last size, it was updated while screen was maximized.
             screen->windowed_window_size = screen->windowed_window_size_backup;
 #ifdef DEBUG
diff --git a/app/src/server.c b/app/src/server.c
index d9114356..90eb4c69 100644
--- a/app/src/server.c
+++ b/app/src/server.c
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 #include "server.h"
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <libgen.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL_timer.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ connect_to_server(uint16_t port, uint32_t attempts, uint32_t delay) {
 
 static void
 close_socket(socket_t *socket) {
-    SDL_assert(*socket != INVALID_SOCKET);
+    assert(*socket != INVALID_SOCKET);
     net_shutdown(*socket, SHUT_RDWR);
     if (!net_close(*socket)) {
         LOGW("Could not close socket");
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ server_stop(struct server *server) {
         close_socket(&server->control_socket);
     }
 
-    SDL_assert(server->process != PROCESS_NONE);
+    assert(server->process != PROCESS_NONE);
 
     if (!cmd_terminate(server->process)) {
         LOGW("Could not terminate server");
diff --git a/app/src/stream.c b/app/src/stream.c
index 35a541e4..64b2bf39 100644
--- a/app/src/stream.c
+++ b/app/src/stream.c
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #include "stream.h"
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <libavformat/avformat.h>
 #include <libavutil/time.h>
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL_events.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL_mutex.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL_thread.h>
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ stream_recv_packet(struct stream *stream, AVPacket *packet) {
 
     uint64_t pts = buffer_read64be(header);
     uint32_t len = buffer_read32be(&header[8]);
-    SDL_assert(pts == NO_PTS || (pts & 0x8000000000000000) == 0);
-    SDL_assert(len);
+    assert(pts == NO_PTS || (pts & 0x8000000000000000) == 0);
+    assert(len);
 
     if (av_new_packet(packet, len)) {
         LOGE("Could not allocate packet");
@@ -108,8 +108,9 @@ stream_parse(struct stream *stream, AVPacket *packet) {
                              AV_NOPTS_VALUE, AV_NOPTS_VALUE, -1);
 
     // PARSER_FLAG_COMPLETE_FRAMES is set
-    SDL_assert(r == in_len);
-    SDL_assert(out_len == in_len);
+    assert(r == in_len);
+    (void) r;
+    assert(out_len == in_len);
 
     if (stream->parser->key_frame == 1) {
         packet->flags |= AV_PKT_FLAG_KEY;
diff --git a/app/src/tiny_xpm.c b/app/src/tiny_xpm.c
index 29e0b54f..feb3d1cb 100644
--- a/app/src/tiny_xpm.c
+++ b/app/src/tiny_xpm.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "tiny_xpm.h"
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
@@ -51,24 +52,26 @@ read_xpm(char *xpm[]) {
     int chars = strtol(endptr + 1, &endptr, 10);
 
     // sanity checks
-    SDL_assert(0 <= width && width < 256);
-    SDL_assert(0 <= height && height < 256);
-    SDL_assert(0 <= colors && colors < 256);
-    SDL_assert(chars == 1); // this implementation does not support more
+    assert(0 <= width && width < 256);
+    assert(0 <= height && height < 256);
+    assert(0 <= colors && colors < 256);
+    assert(chars == 1); // this implementation does not support more
+
+    (void) chars;
 
     // init index
     struct index index[colors];
     for (int i = 0; i < colors; ++i) {
         const char *line = xpm[1+i];
         index[i].c = line[0];
-        SDL_assert(line[1] == '\t');
-        SDL_assert(line[2] == 'c');
-        SDL_assert(line[3] == ' ');
+        assert(line[1] == '\t');
+        assert(line[2] == 'c');
+        assert(line[3] == ' ');
         if (line[4] == '#') {
             index[i].color = 0xff000000 | strtol(&line[5], &endptr, 0x10);
-            SDL_assert(*endptr == '\0');
+            assert(*endptr == '\0');
         } else {
-            SDL_assert(!strcmp("None", &line[4]));
+            assert(!strcmp("None", &line[4]));
             index[i].color = 0;
         }
     }
@@ -85,7 +88,8 @@ read_xpm(char *xpm[]) {
             char c = line[x];
             uint32_t color;
             bool color_found = find_color(index, colors, c, &color);
-            SDL_assert(color_found);
+            assert(color_found);
+            (void) color_found;
             pixels[y * width + x] = color;
         }
     }
diff --git a/app/src/util/queue.h b/app/src/util/queue.h
index 6cf7aba6..12bc9e89 100644
--- a/app/src/util/queue.h
+++ b/app/src/util/queue.h
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 #ifndef QUEUE_H
 #define QUEUE_H
 
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stddef.h>
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
 
 #include "config.h"
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
 // type so that we can "return" it)
 #define queue_take(PQ, NEXTFIELD, PITEM) \
     (void) ({ \
-        SDL_assert(!queue_is_empty(PQ)); \
+        assert(!queue_is_empty(PQ)); \
         *(PITEM) = (PQ)->first; \
         (PQ)->first = (PQ)->first->NEXTFIELD; \
     })
diff --git a/app/src/video_buffer.c b/app/src/video_buffer.c
index 9de3ad7f..629680d9 100644
--- a/app/src/video_buffer.c
+++ b/app/src/video_buffer.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #include "video_buffer.h"
 
-#include <SDL2/SDL_assert.h>
+#include <assert.h>
 #include <SDL2/SDL_mutex.h>
 #include <libavutil/avutil.h>
 #include <libavformat/avformat.h>
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ video_buffer_offer_decoded_frame(struct video_buffer *vb,
 
 const AVFrame *
 video_buffer_consume_rendered_frame(struct video_buffer *vb) {
-    SDL_assert(!vb->rendering_frame_consumed);
+    assert(!vb->rendering_frame_consumed);
     vb->rendering_frame_consumed = true;
     fps_counter_add_rendered_frame(vb->fps_counter);
     if (vb->render_expired_frames) {