diff --git a/src/util/assert.h b/src/util/assert.h
index 2ffec2edfea3..245ed6c3ad41 100644
--- a/src/util/assert.h
+++ b/src/util/assert.h
@@ -3,14 +3,12 @@
 
 #include <QtDebug>
 
+static constexpr const char* kDebugAssertPrefix = "DEBUG ASSERT";
+
 inline void mixxx_noop(void) {}
 
 inline void mixxx_debug_assert(const char* assertion, const char* file, int line, const char* function) {
-#ifdef MIXXX_DEBUG_ASSERTIONS_FATAL
-    qFatal("DEBUG ASSERT: \"%s\" in function %s at %s:%d", assertion, function, file, line);
-#else
-    qWarning("DEBUG ASSERT: \"%s\" in function %s at %s:%d", assertion, function, file, line);
-#endif
+    qCritical("%s: \"%s\" in function %s at %s:%d", kDebugAssertPrefix, assertion, function, file, line);
 }
 
 inline bool mixxx_maybe_debug_assert_return_true(const char* assertion, const char* file, int line, const char* function) {
diff --git a/src/util/cmdlineargs.cpp b/src/util/cmdlineargs.cpp
index 79421e2ca977..1f944cbb46f6 100644
--- a/src/util/cmdlineargs.cpp
+++ b/src/util/cmdlineargs.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ CmdlineArgs::CmdlineArgs()
       m_midiDebug(false),
       m_developer(false),
       m_safeMode(false),
+      m_debugAssertBreak(false),
       m_settingsPathSet(false),
       m_logLevel(mixxx::Logging::kLogLevelDefault),
 // We are not ready to switch to XDG folders under Linux, so keeping $HOME/.mixxx as preferences folder. see lp:1463273
@@ -77,6 +78,8 @@ warnings and errors to the console unless this is set properly.\n", stdout);
             m_developer = true;
         } else if (QString::fromLocal8Bit(argv[i]).contains("--safeMode", Qt::CaseInsensitive)) {
             m_safeMode = true;
+        } else if (QString::fromLocal8Bit(argv[i]).contains("--debugAssertBreak", Qt::CaseInsensitive)) {
+            m_debugAssertBreak = true;
         } else {
             m_musicFiles += QString::fromLocal8Bit(argv[i]);
         }
@@ -142,7 +145,15 @@ void CmdlineArgs::printUsage() {
                         warning - Above + Warnings\n\
                         info - Above + Informational messages\n\
                         debug - Above + Debug/Developer messages\n\
-\n\
+\n"
+#ifdef MIXXX_BUILD_DEBUG
+"\
+--debugAssertBreak      Breaks (SIGINT) Mixxx, if a DEBUG_ASSERT\n\
+                        evaluates to false. Under a debugger you can\n\
+                        continue afterwards.\
+\n"
+#endif
+"\
 -h, --help              Display this help message and exit", stdout);
 
     fputs("\n\n(For more information, see http://mixxx.org/wiki/doku.php/command_line_options)\n",stdout);
diff --git a/src/util/cmdlineargs.h b/src/util/cmdlineargs.h
index 32d42b68d978..8c5ca1beed41 100644
--- a/src/util/cmdlineargs.h
+++ b/src/util/cmdlineargs.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class CmdlineArgs final {
     bool getMidiDebug() const { return m_midiDebug; }
     bool getDeveloper() const { return m_developer; }
     bool getSafeMode() const { return m_safeMode; }
+    bool getDebugAssertBreak() const { return m_debugAssertBreak; }
     bool getSettingsPathSet() const { return m_settingsPathSet; }
     mixxx::Logging::LogLevel getLogLevel() const { return m_logLevel; }
     bool getTimelineEnabled() const { return !m_timelinePath.isEmpty(); }
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ class CmdlineArgs final {
     bool m_midiDebug;
     bool m_developer; // Developer Mode
     bool m_safeMode;
+    bool m_debugAssertBreak;
     bool m_settingsPathSet; // has --settingsPath been set on command line ?
     mixxx::Logging::LogLevel m_logLevel; // Level of logging message verbosity
     QString m_locale;
diff --git a/src/util/logging.cpp b/src/util/logging.cpp
index 95f304218ed0..4311b46870e8 100644
--- a/src/util/logging.cpp
+++ b/src/util/logging.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <iostream>
+#include <signal.h>
 
 #include <QByteArray>
 #include <QFile>
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@
 #include <QtGlobal>
 
 #include "util/cmdlineargs.h"
+#include "util/assert.h"
 
 namespace mixxx {
 namespace {
@@ -132,11 +134,45 @@ void MessageHandler(QtMsgType type,
         }
         break;
     case QtCriticalMsg:
-        // Critical errors are always shown on the console.
-        fprintf(stderr, "Critical %s", ba.constData());
-        if (Logfile.isOpen()) {
-            Logfile.write("Critical ");
-            Logfile.write(ba);
+        {
+#if QT_VERSION < QT_VERSION_CHECK(5, 0, 0)
+            bool debugAssert = strncmp(input, kDebugAssertPrefix,
+                                           strlen(kDebugAssertPrefix)) == 0;
+#else
+            bool debugAssert = input.startsWith(QLatin1String(kDebugAssertPrefix));
+#endif
+            if (debugAssert) {
+                if (CmdlineArgs::Instance().getDebugAssertBreak()) {
+                    fprintf(stderr, ba.constData());
+                    if (Logfile.isOpen()) {
+                        Logfile.write(ba);
+                    }
+                    raise(SIGINT);
+                } else {
+#ifdef MIXXX_DEBUG_ASSERTIONS_FATAL
+                    // re-send as fatal
+                    locker.unlock();
+#if QT_VERSION < QT_VERSION_CHECK(5, 0, 0)
+                    qFatal(input);
+#else
+                    qFatal(input.toLocal8Bit());
+#endif
+                    return;
+#else
+                    fprintf(stderr, ba.constData());
+                    if (Logfile.isOpen()) {
+                        Logfile.write(ba);
+                    }
+#endif
+                }
+            } else {
+                // Critical errors are always shown on the console.
+                fprintf(stderr, "Critical %s", ba.constData());
+                if (Logfile.isOpen()) {
+                    Logfile.write("Critical ");
+                    Logfile.write(ba);
+                }
+            }
         }
         break;
     case QtFatalMsg: