diff --git a/desugarer.go b/desugarer.go
index 3f1453f..c3c92f6 100644
--- a/desugarer.go
+++ b/desugarer.go
@@ -349,6 +349,10 @@ func desugar(astPtr *ast.Node, objLevel int) (err error) {
 			BranchTrue:  node.Rest,
 			BranchFalse: &ast.Error{Expr: node.Message},
 		}
+		err = desugar(astPtr, objLevel)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 
 	case *ast.Binary:
 		// some operators get replaced by stdlib functions
diff --git a/testdata/assert2.golden b/testdata/assert2.golden
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27ba77d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/assert2.golden
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+true
diff --git a/testdata/assert2.input b/testdata/assert2.input
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c74d1ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/assert2.input
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+assert 42 == 42; true
diff --git a/testdata/assert3.golden b/testdata/assert3.golden
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57b9b74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/assert3.golden
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+RUNTIME ERROR: Assertion failed
diff --git a/testdata/assert3.input b/testdata/assert3.input
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98aeb87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/assert3.input
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+assert 42 != 42; 42
diff --git a/testdata/equals.golden b/testdata/equals.golden
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..27ba77d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/equals.golden
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+true
diff --git a/testdata/equals.input b/testdata/equals.input
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dc52ba1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testdata/equals.input
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+42 == 42