diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/util/Assert.as b/src/as/com/threerings/util/Assert.as
index b4cceb0f9..6c2c259b9 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/util/Assert.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/util/Assert.as
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 package com.threerings.util {
 
 import flash.system.Capabilities;
+import flash.system.System;
 
 /**
  * Simple implementation of assertion checks for debug environments.
@@ -81,6 +82,14 @@ public class Assert
         if (dumpStack) {
             _log.warning(new Error("dumpStack").getStackTrace());
         }
+
+        // try to exit, but don't booch if we're running in an older player
+        var o :Object = System;
+        try {
+            o["exit"](1); // call System.exit(1);
+        } catch (err :SecurityError) {
+            // probably not allowed
+        }
     }        
 
     protected static var _log :Log = Log.getLog(Assert);