diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 9a26a505c..7d544a3a9 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ TESTS=$(shell find tests/ -type f -name '*.egg' -not -name '*repro-*')
 
 WWW=${PWD}/target/www
 
+# Keep release-mode test builds checking debug assertions without changing the
+# normal release profile used by CodSpeed benchmarks and production binaries.
+TEST_PROFILE_ENV=CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_DEBUG_ASSERTIONS=true
+
 all: test nits docs
 
 # Build egglog and benchmark every tests/*.egg file with hyperfine, writing an
@@ -18,14 +22,14 @@ nightly:
 	nightly/.venv/bin/python scripts/nightly_bench.py
 
 test: doctest
-	cargo insta test --test-runner nextest --release --workspace  --unreferenced reject
+	$(TEST_PROFILE_ENV) cargo insta test --test-runner nextest --release --workspace  --unreferenced reject
 
 coverage:
-	cargo llvm-cov nextest --release --workspace --lcov --output-path lcov.info
+	$(TEST_PROFILE_ENV) cargo llvm-cov nextest --release --workspace --lcov --output-path lcov.info
 	# Note: doctests are not included in coverage reports
 
 doctest:
-	cargo test --doc --release --workspace
+	$(TEST_PROFILE_ENV) cargo test --doc --release --workspace
 
 
 nits: