1 files changed, 8 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/lib/internal/vm/module.js b/lib/internal/vm/module.js
index 88a276e217..ee2fec2e43 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,
@@ -58,6 +59,11 @@ const kContext = Symbol('kContext');
 const kPerContextModuleId = Symbol('kPerContextModuleId');
 const kLink = Symbol('kLink');
 
+function failIfDebug() {
+  if (process.features.debug === false) return;
+  fail('VM Modules');
+}
+
 class Module {
   constructor(options) {
     emitExperimentalWarning('VM Modules');
@@ -118,7 +124,7 @@ class Module {
                                    syntheticExportNames,
                                    syntheticEvaluationSteps);
     } else {
-      CHECK(false);
+      failIfDebug();
     }
 
     wrapToModuleMap.set(this[kWrap], this);
@@ -374,7 +380,7 @@ class SyntheticModule extends Module {
       identifier,
     });
 
-    this[kLink] = () => this[kWrap].link(() => { CHECK(false); });
+    this[kLink] = () => this[kWrap].link(() => { failIfDebug(); });
   }
 
   setExport(name, value) {