diff --git a/doc/1.4/language.md b/doc/1.4/language.md
index 31039c43..edada7c0 100644
--- a/doc/1.4/language.md
+++ b/doc/1.4/language.md
@@ -3923,9 +3923,16 @@ assert <em>expr</em>;
 </pre>
 
 Evaluates *`expr`*. If the result is `true`, the
-statement has no effect; otherwise, a runtime-error is generated.
+statement has no effect; otherwise, a fatal runtime error is generated, aborting the current execution thread.
 *`expr`* must have type `bool`.
 
+> [!NOTE]
+>
+> DML guarantees that the assertion expression is evaluated, and that the
+> program terminates if the expression is false. This differs from the `assert`
+> construct in the C/C++ standard libraries, which can sometimes be optimized
+> out depending on build settings.
+
 ### Error Statements
 
 <pre>