diff --git a/.eslintrc.yaml b/.eslintrc.yaml
index 9190475e9b6129..630fd19688c485 100644
--- a/.eslintrc.yaml
+++ b/.eslintrc.yaml
@@ -110,9 +110,6 @@ rules:
   }, {
     selector: "ThrowStatement > CallExpression[callee.name=/Error$/]",
     message: "Use new keyword when throwing an Error."
-    }, {
-    selector: "CallExpression[callee.object.name='assert'][callee.property.name='fail'][arguments.length=1]",
-    message: "assert.fail() message should be third argument"
     }]
   no-tabs: 2
   no-trailing-spaces: 2
diff --git a/doc/api/assert.md b/doc/api/assert.md
index 925108b8fcf028..58c3e7c07f04a9 100644
--- a/doc/api/assert.md
+++ b/doc/api/assert.md
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ If the values are not equal, an `AssertionError` is thrown with a `message`
 property set equal to the value of the `message` parameter. If the `message`
 parameter is undefined, a default error message is assigned.
 
+## assert.fail(message)
 ## assert.fail(actual, expected, message, operator)
 <!-- YAML
 added: v0.1.21
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ added: v0.1.21
 * `actual` {any}
 * `expected` {any}
 * `message` {any}
-* `operator` {string}
+* `operator` {string} (default: '!=')
 
 Throws an `AssertionError`. If `message` is falsy, the error message is set as
 the values of `actual` and `expected` separated by the provided `operator`.
@@ -277,6 +278,12 @@ assert.fail(1, 2, undefined, '>');
 
 assert.fail(1, 2, 'whoops', '>');
 // AssertionError: whoops
+
+assert.fail('boom');
+// AssertionError: boom
+
+assert.fail('a', 'b');
+// AssertionError: 'a' != 'b'
 ```
 
 ## assert.ifError(value)
diff --git a/lib/assert.js b/lib/assert.js
index 303a00e8aeb73f..8e421901a81470 100644
--- a/lib/assert.js
+++ b/lib/assert.js
@@ -79,6 +79,10 @@ function getMessage(self) {
 // display purposes.
 
 function fail(actual, expected, message, operator, stackStartFunction) {
+  if (arguments.length === 1)
+    message = actual;
+  if (arguments.length === 2)
+    operator = '!=';
   throw new assert.AssertionError({
     message: message,
     actual: actual,
diff --git a/test/README.md b/test/README.md
index 9a3edd067ab914..e73d278653b99b 100644
--- a/test/README.md
+++ b/test/README.md
@@ -246,12 +246,6 @@ Checks whether `IPv6` is supported on this platform.
 
 Checks if there are multiple localhosts available.
 
-### fail(msg)
-* `msg` [&lt;String>](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Data_structures#String_type)
-* return [&lt;Boolean>](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Data_structures#Boolean_type)
-
-Throws an `AssertionError` with `msg`
-
 ### fileExists(pathname)
 * pathname [&lt;String>](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Data_structures#String_type)
 * return [&lt;Boolean>](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Data_structures#Boolean_type)
diff --git a/test/common.js b/test/common.js
index ba377bebd1366a..6fe2d4520f6a08 100644
--- a/test/common.js
+++ b/test/common.js
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ process.on('exit', function() {
   if (!exports.globalCheck) return;
   const leaked = leakedGlobals();
   if (leaked.length > 0) {
-    fail(`Unexpected global(s) found: ${leaked.join(', ')}`);
+    assert.fail(`Unexpected global(s) found: ${leaked.join(', ')}`);
   }
 });
 
@@ -507,14 +507,9 @@ exports.canCreateSymLink = function() {
   return true;
 };
 
-function fail(msg) {
-  assert.fail(null, null, msg);
-}
-exports.fail = fail;
-
 exports.mustNotCall = function(msg) {
   return function mustNotCall() {
-    fail(msg || 'function should not have been called');
+    assert.fail(msg || 'function should not have been called');
   };
 };
 
@@ -627,7 +622,7 @@ exports.WPT = {
   },
   assert_array_equals: assert.deepStrictEqual,
   assert_unreached(desc) {
-    assert.fail(undefined, undefined, `Reached unreachable code: ${desc}`);
+    assert.fail(`Reached unreachable code: ${desc}`);
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/test/inspector/inspector-helper.js b/test/inspector/inspector-helper.js
index 8ab4ce39d78162..05dd773552e88e 100644
--- a/test/inspector/inspector-helper.js
+++ b/test/inspector/inspector-helper.js
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ TestSession.prototype.sendInspectorCommands = function(commands) {
         for (const id in this.messages_) {
           s += id + ', ';
         }
-        common.fail('Messages without response: ' +
+        assert.fail('Messages without response: ' +
                     s.substring(0, s.length - 2));
       }, TIMEOUT);
     });
diff --git a/test/internet/test-dgram-send-cb-quelches-error.js b/test/internet/test-dgram-send-cb-quelches-error.js
index abcc36859b96d9..946b6bbb455325 100644
--- a/test/internet/test-dgram-send-cb-quelches-error.js
+++ b/test/internet/test-dgram-send-cb-quelches-error.js
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ function callbackOnly(err) {
 }
 
 function onEvent(err) {
-  common.fail('Error should not be emitted if there is callback');
+  assert.fail('Error should not be emitted if there is callback');
 }
 
 function onError(err) {
diff --git a/test/internet/test-dns.js b/test/internet/test-dns.js
index f38bbe5e91036f..ed4ff777ff6710 100644
--- a/test/internet/test-dns.js
+++ b/test/internet/test-dns.js
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ TEST(function test_lookup_all_mixed(done) {
       else if (isIPv6(ip.address))
         assert.strictEqual(ip.family, 6);
       else
-        common.fail('unexpected IP address');
+        assert.fail('unexpected IP address');
     });
 
     done();
diff --git a/test/internet/test-tls-add-ca-cert.js b/test/internet/test-tls-add-ca-cert.js
index 135b9215feaa4f..e64b9b20fe877a 100644
--- a/test/internet/test-tls-add-ca-cert.js
+++ b/test/internet/test-tls-add-ca-cert.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ tls.connect(opts, fail).on('error', common.mustCall((err) => {
 }));
 
 function fail() {
-  common.fail('should fail to connect');
+  assert.fail('should fail to connect');
 }
 
 // New secure contexts have the well-known root CAs.
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert-fail.js b/test/parallel/test-assert-fail.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..5a321c6bb3b708
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert-fail.js
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+'use strict';
+require('../common');
+const assert = require('assert');
+
+// no args
+assert.throws(
+  () => { assert.fail(); },
+  /^AssertionError: undefined undefined undefined$/
+);
+
+// one arg = message
+assert.throws(
+  () => { assert.fail('custom message'); },
+  /^AssertionError: custom message$/
+);
+
+// two args only, operator defaults to '!='
+assert.throws(
+  () => { assert.fail('first', 'second'); },
+  /^AssertionError: 'first' != 'second'$/
+);
+
+// three args
+assert.throws(
+  () => { assert.fail('ignored', 'ignored', 'another custom message'); },
+  /^AssertionError: another custom message$/
+);
+
+// no third arg (but a fourth arg)
+assert.throws(
+  () => { assert.fail('first', 'second', undefined, 'operator'); },
+  /^AssertionError: 'first' operator 'second'$/
+);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-beforeexit-event-exit.js b/test/parallel/test-beforeexit-event-exit.js
index 81730b10d1b224..8c07da9ca962b2 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-beforeexit-event-exit.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-beforeexit-event-exit.js
@@ -20,10 +20,11 @@
 // USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
 'use strict';
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
+const assert = require('assert');
 
 process.on('beforeExit', function() {
-  common.fail('exit should not allow this to occur');
+  assert.fail('exit should not allow this to occur');
 });
 
 process.exit();
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-fork-and-spawn.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-fork-and-spawn.js
index d50753541cd232..5d4446d98a3489 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-fork-and-spawn.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-fork-and-spawn.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ switch (process.argv[2] || '') {
   case 'spawn':
     break;
   default:
-    common.fail();
+    assert.fail();
 }
 
 function checkExit(statusCode) {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdout-flush-exit.js b/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdout-flush-exit.js
index 8737c4fd2a2fcd..f3fdf4949aadd5 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdout-flush-exit.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-child-process-stdout-flush-exit.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
 
   child.stderr.setEncoding('utf8');
   child.stderr.on('data', function(data) {
-    common.fail(`Unexpected parent stderr: ${data}`);
+    assert.fail(`Unexpected parent stderr: ${data}`);
   });
 
   // check if we receive both 'hello' at start and 'goodbye' at end
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-cluster-send-handle-twice.js b/test/parallel/test-cluster-send-handle-twice.js
index 4370f127046a1e..c3a00766fddf49 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-cluster-send-handle-twice.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-cluster-send-handle-twice.js
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ if (cluster.isMaster) {
     setTimeout(function() { client.end(); }, 50);
   }).on('error', function(e) {
     console.error(e);
-    common.fail('server.listen failed');
+    assert.fail('server.listen failed');
     cluster.worker.disconnect();
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-common.js b/test/parallel/test-common.js
index 4bddcf4eb1a462..201fa40d08ac25 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-common.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-common.js
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ assert.throws(function() {
 }, /^TypeError: Invalid expected value: \/foo\/$/);
 
 
-// common.fail() tests
+// assert.fail() tests
 assert.throws(
-  () => { common.fail('fhqwhgads'); },
+  () => { assert.fail('fhqwhgads'); },
   /^AssertionError: fhqwhgads$/
 );
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-dgram-address.js b/test/parallel/test-dgram-address.js
index aa06bb16629ba3..f14b910fc27a2b 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-dgram-address.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-dgram-address.js
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ const dgram = require('dgram');
 
   socket.on('error', (err) => {
     socket.close();
-    common.fail(`Unexpected error on udp4 socket. ${err.toString()}`);
+    assert.fail(`Unexpected error on udp4 socket. ${err.toString()}`);
   });
 
   socket.bind(0, common.localhostIPv4);
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ if (common.hasIPv6) {
 
   socket.on('error', (err) => {
     socket.close();
-    common.fail(`Unexpected error on udp6 socket. ${err.toString()}`);
+    assert.fail(`Unexpected error on udp6 socket. ${err.toString()}`);
   });
 
   socket.bind(0, localhost);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-dgram-implicit-bind-failure.js b/test/parallel/test-dgram-implicit-bind-failure.js
index 764b1fc1c9d69e..626af418e533a9 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-dgram-implicit-bind-failure.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-dgram-implicit-bind-failure.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ socket.on('error', (err) => {
     return;
   }
 
-  common.fail(`Unexpected error: ${err}`);
+  assert.fail(`Unexpected error: ${err}`);
 });
 
 // Initiate a few send() operations, which will fail.
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-domain-uncaught-exception.js b/test/parallel/test-domain-uncaught-exception.js
index b13bf79b1a034b..b4a3d0d1d92b29 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-domain-uncaught-exception.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-domain-uncaught-exception.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
  */
 
 const common = require('../common');
+const assert = require('assert');
 const domain = require('domain');
 const child_process = require('child_process');
 
@@ -183,14 +184,14 @@ if (process.argv[2] === 'child') {
       test.expectedMessages.forEach(function(expectedMessage) {
         if (test.messagesReceived === undefined ||
           test.messagesReceived.indexOf(expectedMessage) === -1)
-          common.fail('test ' + test.fn.name + ' should have sent message: ' +
+          assert.fail('test ' + test.fn.name + ' should have sent message: ' +
                       expectedMessage + ' but didn\'t');
       });
 
       if (test.messagesReceived) {
         test.messagesReceived.forEach(function(receivedMessage) {
           if (test.expectedMessages.indexOf(receivedMessage) === -1) {
-            common.fail('test ' + test.fn.name +
+            assert.fail('test ' + test.fn.name +
                         ' should not have sent message: ' + receivedMessage +
                         ' but did');
           }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-add-listeners.js b/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-add-listeners.js
index 18712087fbd19b..a4bfcb344208f9 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-add-listeners.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-add-listeners.js
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ const EventEmitter = require('events');
   });
 
   ee.on('hello', hello);
-  ee.once('foo', common.fail);
+  ee.once('foo', assert.fail);
   assert.deepStrictEqual(['hello', 'foo'], events_new_listener_emitted);
-  assert.deepStrictEqual([hello, common.fail], listeners_new_listener_emitted);
+  assert.deepStrictEqual([hello, assert.fail], listeners_new_listener_emitted);
 
   ee.emit('hello', 'a', 'b');
 }
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-listeners-side-effects.js b/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-listeners-side-effects.js
index 1066c5f3a7a71d..3e427c4c284ea2 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-listeners-side-effects.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-listeners-side-effects.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const EventEmitter = require('events').EventEmitter;
@@ -35,12 +35,12 @@ assert.strictEqual(fl.length, 0);
 assert(!(e._events instanceof Object));
 assert.deepStrictEqual(Object.keys(e._events), []);
 
-e.on('foo', common.fail);
+e.on('foo', assert.fail);
 fl = e.listeners('foo');
-assert.strictEqual(e._events.foo, common.fail);
+assert.strictEqual(e._events.foo, assert.fail);
 assert(Array.isArray(fl));
 assert.strictEqual(fl.length, 1);
-assert.strictEqual(fl[0], common.fail);
+assert.strictEqual(fl[0], assert.fail);
 
 e.listeners('bar');
 
@@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ fl = e.listeners('foo');
 
 assert(Array.isArray(e._events.foo));
 assert.strictEqual(e._events.foo.length, 2);
-assert.strictEqual(e._events.foo[0], common.fail);
+assert.strictEqual(e._events.foo[0], assert.fail);
 assert.strictEqual(e._events.foo[1], assert.ok);
 
 assert(Array.isArray(fl));
 assert.strictEqual(fl.length, 2);
-assert.strictEqual(fl[0], common.fail);
+assert.strictEqual(fl[0], assert.fail);
 assert.strictEqual(fl[1], assert.ok);
 
 console.log('ok');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-once.js b/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-once.js
index bbd29c84376425..8a7bbbf9bce6d2 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-once.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-once.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ e.emit('hello', 'a', 'b');
 e.emit('hello', 'a', 'b');
 
 const remove = function() {
-  common.fail('once->foo should not be emitted');
+  assert.fail('once->foo should not be emitted');
 };
 
 e.once('foo', remove);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-remove-listeners.js b/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-remove-listeners.js
index e94a193d1a1c76..01ed0141354117 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-remove-listeners.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-event-emitter-remove-listeners.js
@@ -70,11 +70,11 @@ function listener2() {}
   const ee = new EventEmitter();
 
   function remove1() {
-    common.fail('remove1 should not have been called');
+    assert.fail('remove1 should not have been called');
   }
 
   function remove2() {
-    common.fail('remove2 should not have been called');
+    assert.fail('remove2 should not have been called');
   }
 
   ee.on('removeListener', common.mustCall(function(name, cb) {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-exception-handler2.js b/test/parallel/test-exception-handler2.js
index cb22048bbf9a38..0911b89dd79e9b 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-exception-handler2.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-exception-handler2.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 'use strict';
 const common = require('../common');
+const assert = require('assert');
 
 process.on('uncaughtException', function(err) {
   console.log('Caught exception: ' + err);
@@ -32,4 +33,4 @@ setTimeout(common.mustCall(function() {
 
 // Intentionally cause an exception, but don't catch it.
 nonexistentFunc(); // eslint-disable-line no-undef
-common.fail('This will not run.');
+assert.fail('This will not run.');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-null-bytes.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-null-bytes.js
index 9adeeea3df8b39..e9f421a6c41ec1 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-null-bytes.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-null-bytes.js
@@ -95,10 +95,10 @@ check(fs.symlink, fs.symlinkSync, fileUrl, 'foobar');
 check(fs.symlink, fs.symlinkSync, 'foobar', fileUrl);
 check(fs.truncate, fs.truncateSync, fileUrl);
 check(fs.unlink, fs.unlinkSync, fileUrl);
-check(null, fs.unwatchFile, fileUrl, common.fail);
+check(null, fs.unwatchFile, fileUrl, assert.fail);
 check(fs.utimes, fs.utimesSync, fileUrl, 0, 0);
-check(null, fs.watch, fileUrl, common.fail);
-check(null, fs.watchFile, fileUrl, common.fail);
+check(null, fs.watch, fileUrl, assert.fail);
+check(null, fs.watchFile, fileUrl, assert.fail);
 check(fs.writeFile, fs.writeFileSync, fileUrl, 'abc');
 
 check(fs.access, fs.accessSync, fileUrl2);
@@ -123,10 +123,10 @@ check(fs.symlink, fs.symlinkSync, fileUrl2, 'foobar');
 check(fs.symlink, fs.symlinkSync, 'foobar', fileUrl2);
 check(fs.truncate, fs.truncateSync, fileUrl2);
 check(fs.unlink, fs.unlinkSync, fileUrl2);
-check(null, fs.unwatchFile, fileUrl2, common.fail);
+check(null, fs.unwatchFile, fileUrl2, assert.fail);
 check(fs.utimes, fs.utimesSync, fileUrl2, 0, 0);
-check(null, fs.watch, fileUrl2, common.fail);
-check(null, fs.watchFile, fileUrl2, common.fail);
+check(null, fs.watch, fileUrl2, assert.fail);
+check(null, fs.watchFile, fileUrl2, assert.fail);
 check(fs.writeFile, fs.writeFileSync, fileUrl2, 'abc');
 
 // an 'error' for exists means that it doesn't exist.
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-stat.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-stat.js
index ec44d29ae923d6..bf62b4e472076b 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-stat.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-stat.js
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ fs.open('.', 'r', undefined, common.mustCall(function(err, fd) {
   try {
     stats = fs.fstatSync(fd);
   } catch (err) {
-    common.fail(err);
+    assert.fail(err);
   }
   if (stats) {
     console.dir(stats);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-fs-write-stream.js b/test/parallel/test-fs-write-stream.js
index 3b1404f12b29b1..bba2debf9156e5 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-fs-write-stream.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-fs-write-stream.js
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ common.refreshTmpDir();
   const stream = fs.createWriteStream(file);
 
   stream.on('drain', function() {
-    common.fail('\'drain\' event must not be emitted before ' +
+    assert.fail('\'drain\' event must not be emitted before ' +
                 'stream.write() has been called at least once.');
   });
   stream.destroy();
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-global-console-exists.js b/test/parallel/test-global-console-exists.js
index 5d2814663b2f07..d18ecb77c36f5a 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-global-console-exists.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-global-console-exists.js
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ process.stderr.write = (data) => {
   if (write_calls === 0)
     assert.ok(data.match(leak_warning));
   else
-    common.fail('stderr.write should be called only once');
+    assert.fail('stderr.write should be called only once');
 
   write_calls++;
 };
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-createConnection.js b/test/parallel/test-http-createConnection.js
index e5bb3834100a7c..a65b9a158c679d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-createConnection.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-createConnection.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ const server = http.createServer(common.mustCall(function(req, res) {
           res.resume();
           fn = common.mustCall(createConnectionError);
           http.get({ createConnection: fn }, function(res) {
-            common.fail('Unexpected response callback');
+            assert.fail('Unexpected response callback');
           }).on('error', common.mustCall(function(err) {
             assert.strictEqual(err.message, 'Could not create socket');
             server.close();
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-invalid-path-chars.js b/test/parallel/test-http-invalid-path-chars.js
index 462e0bc12a0a3f..6aedf430a156cf 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-invalid-path-chars.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-invalid-path-chars.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 const http = require('http');
 
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ const theExperimentallyDeterminedNumber = 39;
 
 function fail(path) {
   assert.throws(() => {
-    http.request({ path }, common.fail);
+    http.request({ path }, assert.fail);
   }, expectedError);
 }
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-localaddress-bind-error.js b/test/parallel/test-http-localaddress-bind-error.js
index 90ac1090802f30..74595d6320238b 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-localaddress-bind-error.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-localaddress-bind-error.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 'use strict';
 const common = require('../common');
+const assert = require('assert');
 const http = require('http');
 
 const invalidLocalAddress = '1.2.3.4';
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', common.mustCall(function() {
     method: 'GET',
     localAddress: invalidLocalAddress
   }, function(res) {
-    common.fail('unexpectedly got response from server');
+    assert.fail('unexpectedly got response from server');
   }).on('error', common.mustCall(function(e) {
     console.log('client got error: ' + e.message);
     server.close();
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-mutable-headers.js b/test/parallel/test-http-mutable-headers.js
index 562b53f915b7a9..787f95a26ae1b3 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-mutable-headers.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-mutable-headers.js
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ const s = http.createServer(common.mustCall((req, res) => {
       break;
 
     default:
-      common.fail('Unknown test');
+      assert.fail('Unknown test');
   }
 
   res.statusCode = 201;
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ function nextTest() {
         break;
 
       default:
-        common.fail('Unknown test');
+        assert.fail('Unknown test');
     }
 
     response.setEncoding('utf8');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-response-multi-content-length.js b/test/parallel/test-http-response-multi-content-length.js
index 5d53f7dcd5c621..c915cb1d531808 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-response-multi-content-length.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-response-multi-content-length.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
       res.writeHead(200, {'content-length': [1, 2]});
       break;
     default:
-      common.fail('should never get here');
+      assert.fail('should never get here');
   }
   res.end('ok');
 });
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ server.listen(0, common.mustCall(() => {
     http.get(
       {port: server.address().port, headers: {'x-num': n}},
       (res) => {
-        common.fail('client allowed multiple content-length headers.');
+        assert.fail('client allowed multiple content-length headers.');
       }
     ).on('error', common.mustCall((err) => {
       assert(/^Parse Error/.test(err.message));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-response-splitting.js b/test/parallel/test-http-response-splitting.js
index e6927bc1e63f77..aebb6b813be35e 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-response-splitting.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-response-splitting.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 'use strict';
 
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
 const http = require('http');
 const net = require('net');
 const url = require('url');
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
       test(res, 200, {'foo': y});
       break;
     default:
-      common.fail('should not get to here.');
+      assert.fail('should not get to here.');
   }
   if (count === 3)
     server.close();
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-response-status-message.js b/test/parallel/test-http-response-status-message.js
index f7ceaf2fb82035..ca0618caf046a3 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-response-status-message.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-response-status-message.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 // USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
 'use strict';
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 const http = require('http');
 const net = require('net');
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ testCases.findByPath = function(path) {
     return testCase.path === path;
   });
   if (matching.length === 0) {
-    common.fail(`failed to find test case with path ${path}`);
+    assert.fail(`failed to find test case with path ${path}`);
   }
   return matching[0];
 };
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-server-reject-chunked-with-content-length.js b/test/parallel/test-http-server-reject-chunked-with-content-length.js
index 7c8b2e10451aa9..f316d86a7019dc 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-server-reject-chunked-with-content-length.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-server-reject-chunked-with-content-length.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ server.listen(0, () => {
   client.on('data', (data) => {
     // Should not get to this point because the server should simply
     // close the connection without returning any data.
-    common.fail('no data should be returned by the server');
+    assert.fail('no data should be returned by the server');
   });
   client.on('end', common.mustCall());
 });
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-unix-socket.js b/test/parallel/test-http-unix-socket.js
index 2d29b82b016fd1..6d5897cacbecc2 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-unix-socket.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-unix-socket.js
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ server.listen(common.PIPE, common.mustCall(function() {
   }));
 
   req.on('error', function(e) {
-    common.fail(e.stack);
+    assert.fail(e.stack);
   });
 
   req.end();
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-https-localaddress-bind-error.js b/test/parallel/test-https-localaddress-bind-error.js
index 0b0274b396883f..caf6be85eca32b 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-https-localaddress-bind-error.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-https-localaddress-bind-error.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 'use strict';
 const common = require('../common');
+const assert = require('assert');
 const fs = require('fs');
 
 if (!common.hasCrypto) {
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', common.mustCall(function() {
     method: 'GET',
     localAddress: invalidLocalAddress
   }, function(res) {
-    common.fail('unexpectedly got response from server');
+    assert.fail('unexpectedly got response from server');
   }).on('error', common.mustCall(function(e) {
     console.log('client got error: ' + e.message);
     server.close();
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-net-error-twice.js b/test/parallel/test-net-error-twice.js
index ce32be4882f071..4c2839d372fcb4 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-net-error-twice.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-net-error-twice.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 // USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
 'use strict';
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 const net = require('net');
 
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ const srv = net.createServer(function onConnection(conn) {
   conn.on('error', function(err) {
     errs.push(err);
     if (errs.length > 1 && errs[0] === errs[1])
-      common.fail('Should not emit the same error twice');
+      assert.fail('Should not emit the same error twice');
   });
   conn.on('close', function() {
     srv.unref();
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-net-pipe-connect-errors.js b/test/parallel/test-net-pipe-connect-errors.js
index 917913b30a56cc..be0827e3f8319f 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-net-pipe-connect-errors.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-net-pipe-connect-errors.js
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ if (common.isWindows) {
 }
 
 const notSocketClient = net.createConnection(emptyTxt, function() {
-  common.fail('connection callback should not run');
+  assert.fail('connection callback should not run');
 });
 
 notSocketClient.on('error', common.mustCall(function(err) {
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ notSocketClient.on('error', common.mustCall(function(err) {
 
 // Trying to connect to not-existing socket should result in ENOENT error
 const noEntSocketClient = net.createConnection('no-ent-file', function() {
-  common.fail('connection to non-existent socket, callback should not run');
+  assert.fail('connection to non-existent socket, callback should not run');
 });
 
 noEntSocketClient.on('error', common.mustCall(function(err) {
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ if (!common.isWindows && process.getuid() !== 0) {
     fs.chmodSync(common.PIPE, 0);
 
     const accessClient = net.createConnection(common.PIPE, function() {
-      common.fail('connection should get EACCES, callback should not run');
+      assert.fail('connection should get EACCES, callback should not run');
     });
 
     accessClient.on('error', common.mustCall(function(err) {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-net-server-max-connections-close-makes-more-available.js b/test/parallel/test-net-server-max-connections-close-makes-more-available.js
index 4e1f381e0fdb50..887beb21d288a9 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-net-server-max-connections-close-makes-more-available.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-net-server-max-connections-close-makes-more-available.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const net = require('net');
@@ -86,5 +86,5 @@ process.on('exit', function() {
 
 process.on('unhandledRejection', function() {
   console.error('promise rejected');
-  common.fail('A promise in the chain rejected');
+  assert.fail('A promise in the chain rejected');
 });
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-net-server-pause-on-connect.js b/test/parallel/test-net-server-pause-on-connect.js
index b81dd5c38b7a2a..6041de9970bc9c 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-net-server-pause-on-connect.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-net-server-pause-on-connect.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ let server1Sock;
 const server1ConnHandler = function(socket) {
   socket.on('data', function(data) {
     if (stopped) {
-      common.fail('data event should not have happened yet');
+      assert.fail('data event should not have happened yet');
     }
 
     assert.strictEqual(data.toString(), msg, 'invalid data received');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-net-write-slow.js b/test/parallel/test-net-write-slow.js
index 89c46c3a0d90ff..cf2d5790d93174 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-net-write-slow.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-net-write-slow.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ const server = net.createServer(function(socket) {
   socket.setNoDelay();
   socket.setTimeout(9999);
   socket.on('timeout', function() {
-    common.fail(`flushed: ${flushed}, received: ${received}/${SIZE * N}`);
+    assert.fail(`flushed: ${flushed}, received: ${received}/${SIZE * N}`);
   });
 
   for (let i = 0; i < N; ++i) {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-next-tick-when-exiting.js b/test/parallel/test-next-tick-when-exiting.js
index 1bb4c914d01869..b64befa8578579 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-next-tick-when-exiting.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-next-tick-when-exiting.js
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 'use strict';
 
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 process.on('exit', () => {
   assert.strictEqual(process._exiting, true, 'process._exiting was not set!');
 
   process.nextTick(() => {
-    common.fail('process is exiting, should not be called.');
+    assert.fail('process is exiting, should not be called.');
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-exit-from-before-exit.js b/test/parallel/test-process-exit-from-before-exit.js
index 21c20ca5bc6fe5..7f20c22f0ba11a 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-exit-from-before-exit.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-exit-from-before-exit.js
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@
 
 'use strict';
 const common = require('../common');
+const assert = require('assert');
 
 process.on('beforeExit', common.mustCall(function() {
   setTimeout(common.mustNotCall(), 5);
   process.exit(0);  // Should execute immediately even if we schedule new work.
-  common.fail();
+  assert.fail();
 }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-no-deprecation.js b/test/parallel/test-process-no-deprecation.js
index 4d4dfa86fb67ad..bcda99de25069d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-no-deprecation.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-no-deprecation.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ process.noDeprecation = true;
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 function listener() {
-  common.fail('received unexpected warning');
+  assert.fail('received unexpected warning');
 }
 
 process.addListener('warning', listener);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-promises-unhandled-rejections.js b/test/parallel/test-promises-unhandled-rejections.js
index 6ae70fef97a489..fb2404a99016b8 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-promises-unhandled-rejections.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-promises-unhandled-rejections.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 const domain = require('domain');
 
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ asyncTest('Catching a promise rejection after setImmediate is not' +
   });
   _reject(e);
   setImmediate(function() {
-    promise.then(common.fail, function() {});
+    promise.then(assert.fail, function() {});
   });
 });
 
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ asyncTest('When re-throwing new errors in a promise catch, only the' +
     assert.strictEqual(e2, reason);
     assert.strictEqual(promise2, promise);
   });
-  const promise2 = Promise.reject(e).then(common.fail, function(reason) {
+  const promise2 = Promise.reject(e).then(assert.fail, function(reason) {
     assert.strictEqual(e, reason);
     throw e2;
   });
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ asyncTest('When re-throwing new errors in a promise catch, only the ' +
     setTimeout(function() {
       reject(e);
     }, 1);
-  }).then(common.fail, function(reason) {
+  }).then(assert.fail, function(reason) {
     assert.strictEqual(e, reason);
     throw e2;
   });
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ asyncTest('When re-throwing new errors in a promise catch, only the re-thrown' +
     setTimeout(function() {
       reject(e);
       process.nextTick(function() {
-        promise2 = promise.then(common.fail, function(reason) {
+        promise2 = promise.then(assert.fail, function(reason) {
           assert.strictEqual(e, reason);
           throw e2;
         });
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ asyncTest(
   function(done) {
     const e = new Error();
     onUnhandledFail(done);
-    Promise.reject(e).then(common.fail, function() {});
+    Promise.reject(e).then(assert.fail, function() {});
   }
 );
 
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ asyncTest(
     onUnhandledFail(done);
     new Promise(function(_, reject) {
       reject(e);
-    }).then(common.fail, function() {});
+    }).then(assert.fail, function() {});
   }
 );
 
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ asyncTest('Attaching a promise catch in a process.nextTick is soon enough to' +
   onUnhandledFail(done);
   const promise = Promise.reject(e);
   process.nextTick(function() {
-    promise.then(common.fail, function() {});
+    promise.then(assert.fail, function() {});
   });
 });
 
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ asyncTest('Attaching a promise catch in a process.nextTick is soon enough to' +
     reject(e);
   });
   process.nextTick(function() {
-    promise.then(common.fail, function() {});
+    promise.then(assert.fail, function() {});
   });
 });
 
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ asyncTest('catching a promise which is asynchronously rejected (via' +
         reject(e);
       }, 1);
     });
-  }).then(common.fail, function(reason) {
+  }).then(assert.fail, function(reason) {
     assert.strictEqual(e, reason);
   });
 });
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ asyncTest('Catching a rejected promise derived from throwing in a' +
   onUnhandledFail(done);
   Promise.resolve().then(function() {
     throw e;
-  }).then(common.fail, function(reason) {
+  }).then(assert.fail, function(reason) {
     assert.strictEqual(e, reason);
   });
 });
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ asyncTest('Catching a rejected promise derived from returning a' +
   onUnhandledFail(done);
   Promise.resolve().then(function() {
     return Promise.reject(e);
-  }).then(common.fail, function(reason) {
+  }).then(assert.fail, function(reason) {
     assert.strictEqual(e, reason);
   });
 });
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ asyncTest('Catching the Promise.all() of a collection that includes a' +
           'rejected promise prevents unhandledRejection', function(done) {
   const e = new Error();
   onUnhandledFail(done);
-  Promise.all([Promise.reject(e)]).then(common.fail, function() {});
+  Promise.all([Promise.reject(e)]).then(assert.fail, function() {});
 });
 
 asyncTest(
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ asyncTest(
     });
     p = Promise.all([p]);
     process.nextTick(function() {
-      p.then(common.fail, function() {});
+      p.then(assert.fail, function() {});
     });
   }
 );
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ asyncTest('Waiting setTimeout(, 10) to catch a promise causes an' +
     throw e;
   });
   setTimeout(function() {
-    thePromise.then(common.fail, function(reason) {
+    thePromise.then(assert.fail, function(reason) {
       assert.strictEqual(e, reason);
     });
   }, 10);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-spawn-cmd-named-pipe.js b/test/parallel/test-spawn-cmd-named-pipe.js
index b4264880165d39..d2cb16d26c47ef 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-spawn-cmd-named-pipe.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-spawn-cmd-named-pipe.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ if (!process.argv[2]) {
 
   const comspec = process.env['comspec'];
   if (!comspec || comspec.length === 0) {
-    common.fail('Failed to get COMSPEC');
+    assert.fail('Failed to get COMSPEC');
   }
 
   const args = ['/c', process.execPath, __filename, 'child',
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-stream2-base64-single-char-read-end.js b/test/parallel/test-stream2-base64-single-char-read-end.js
index 9a900d04ddcbc7..2e400c2f97ec9c 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-stream2-base64-single-char-read-end.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-stream2-base64-single-char-read-end.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 // USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
 'use strict';
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
 const R = require('_stream_readable');
 const W = require('_stream_writable');
 const assert = require('assert');
@@ -53,5 +53,5 @@ src.on('end', function() {
 src.pipe(dst);
 
 const timeout = setTimeout(function() {
-  common.fail('timed out waiting for _write');
+  assert.fail('timed out waiting for _write');
 }, 100);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-tls-econnreset.js b/test/parallel/test-tls-econnreset.js
index d173580d858e15..798c10ca4c141c 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-tls-econnreset.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-tls-econnreset.js
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ let clientError = null;
 let connectError = null;
 
 const server = tls.createServer({ ca: ca, cert: cert, key: key }, () => {
-  common.fail('should be unreachable');
+  assert.fail('should be unreachable');
 }).on('tlsClientError', function(err, conn) {
   assert(!clientError && conn);
   clientError = err;
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-tls-empty-sni-context.js b/test/parallel/test-tls-empty-sni-context.js
index e68378fb4eac50..4974e6323e8726 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-tls-empty-sni-context.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-tls-empty-sni-context.js
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ const options = {
 };
 
 const server = tls.createServer(options, (c) => {
-  common.fail('Should not be called');
+  assert.fail('Should not be called');
 }).on('tlsClientError', common.mustCall((err, c) => {
   assert(/SSL_use_certificate:passed a null parameter/i.test(err.message));
   server.close();
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-tls-session-cache.js b/test/parallel/test-tls-session-cache.js
index 887c36d4c5b427..5a380597f5078a 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-tls-session-cache.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-tls-session-cache.js
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ function doTest(testOptions, callback) {
             spawnClient();
             return;
           }
-          common.fail(`code: ${code}, signal: ${signal}, output: ${err}`);
+          assert.fail(`code: ${code}, signal: ${signal}, output: ${err}`);
         }
         assert.strictEqual(code, 0);
         server.close(common.mustCall(function() {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js b/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js
index ab4964f9e7b5a1..0b58af40807f71 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-util-inspect.js
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ for (const showHidden of [true, false]) {
       {visible: {value: 1, enumerable: true}, hidden: {value: 2}}), true);
   if (out !== '{ [hidden]: 2, visible: 1 }' &&
       out !== '{ visible: 1, [hidden]: 2 }') {
-    common.fail(`unexpected value for out ${out}`);
+    assert.fail(`unexpected value for out ${out}`);
   }
 }
 
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ for (const showHidden of [true, false]) {
                                            hidden: {value: 'secret'}}), true);
   if (out !== "{ [hidden]: 'secret', name: 'Tim' }" &&
       out !== "{ name: 'Tim', [hidden]: 'secret' }") {
-    common.fail(`unexpected value for out ${out}`);
+    assert.fail(`unexpected value for out ${out}`);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-vm-debug-context.js b/test/parallel/test-vm-debug-context.js
index 6cafc6b8bcb9cd..bc87e4d6195e32 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-vm-debug-context.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-vm-debug-context.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ assert.throws(function() {
 }, /SyntaxError/);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
-  vm.runInDebugContext({ toString: common.fail });
+  vm.runInDebugContext({ toString: assert.fail });
 }, /AssertionError/);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-vm-syntax-error-message.js b/test/parallel/test-vm-syntax-error-message.js
index 90f2b8c013406e..89589c5cc9d881 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-vm-syntax-error-message.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-vm-syntax-error-message.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
-const common = require('../common');
+require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 const child_process = require('child_process');
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const p = child_process.spawn(process.execPath, [
 ]);
 
 p.stderr.on('data', function(data) {
-  common.fail(`Unexpected stderr data: ${data}`);
+  assert.fail(`Unexpected stderr data: ${data}`);
 });
 
 let output = '';
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-vm-syntax-error-stderr.js b/test/parallel/test-vm-syntax-error-stderr.js
index 43ed8d882804ca..af0df0202f458c 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-vm-syntax-error-stderr.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-vm-syntax-error-stderr.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const p = child_process.spawn(process.execPath, [
 ]);
 
 p.stdout.on('data', function(data) {
-  common.fail('Unexpected stdout data: ' + data);
+  assert.fail('Unexpected stdout data: ' + data);
 });
 
 let output = '';