diff --git a/lib/internal/vm/module.js b/lib/internal/vm/module.js
index cc42330cf24bfc..ee2fec2e431380 100644
--- a/lib/internal/vm/module.js
+++ b/lib/internal/vm/module.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict';
 
+const { fail } = require('internal/assert');
 const {
   ArrayIsArray,
   ObjectCreate,
@@ -58,13 +59,9 @@ const kContext = Symbol('kContext');
 const kPerContextModuleId = Symbol('kPerContextModuleId');
 const kLink = Symbol('kLink');
 
-// Helper caried over from js2c_macros: exits process and prints debug message
-// iff node_debug_lib flag is set.
-function CHECK(x) {
-  if (process.config.variables.node_debug_lib === false) return;
-  if (!x) {
-    (process._rawDebug('CHECK: x == true'), process.abort());
-  }
+function failIfDebug() {
+  if (process.features.debug === false) return;
+  fail('VM Modules');
 }
 
 class Module {
@@ -127,7 +124,7 @@ class Module {
                                    syntheticExportNames,
                                    syntheticEvaluationSteps);
     } else {
-      CHECK(false);
+      failIfDebug();
     }
 
     wrapToModuleMap.set(this[kWrap], this);
@@ -383,7 +380,7 @@ class SyntheticModule extends Module {
       identifier,
     });
 
-    this[kLink] = () => this[kWrap].link(() => { CHECK(false); });
+    this[kLink] = () => this[kWrap].link(() => { failIfDebug(); });
   }
 
   setExport(name, value) {