diff --git a/lib/assert.js b/lib/assert.js
index 4799087aaeabb1..64b02edb570809 100644
--- a/lib/assert.js
+++ b/lib/assert.js
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ const { isSet, isMap } = process.binding('util');
 const objectToString = require('internal/util').objectToString;
 const Buffer = require('buffer').Buffer;
 
+var errors;
+function lazyErrors() {
+  if (!errors)
+    errors = require('internal/errors');
+  return errors;
+}
+
 // The assert module provides functions that throw
 // AssertionError's when particular conditions are not met. The
 // assert module must conform to the following interface.
@@ -38,34 +45,33 @@ const assert = module.exports = ok;
 //                             actual: actual,
 //                             expected: expected });
 
-assert.AssertionError = function AssertionError(options) {
-  this.name = 'AssertionError';
-  this.actual = options.actual;
-  this.expected = options.expected;
-  this.operator = options.operator;
-  if (options.message) {
-    this.message = options.message;
-    this.generatedMessage = false;
-  } else {
-    this.message = getMessage(this);
-    this.generatedMessage = true;
-  }
-  var stackStartFunction = options.stackStartFunction || fail;
-  Error.captureStackTrace(this, stackStartFunction);
-};
-
-// assert.AssertionError instanceof Error
-util.inherits(assert.AssertionError, Error);
-
-function truncate(s, n) {
-  return s.slice(0, n);
+// TODO(jasnell): Consider moving AssertionError into internal/errors.js
+class AssertionError extends Error {
+  constructor(options = {}) {
+    if (typeof options !== 'object' || options === null) {
+      // Lazy because the errors module itself uses assertions, leading to
+      // a circular dependency. This can be eliminated by moving this class
+      // into internal/errors.js
+      const errors = lazyErrors();
+      throw new errors.TypeError('ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE', 'options', 'object');
+    }
+    const message = options.message ||
+                    `${util.inspect(options.actual).slice(0, 128)} ` +
+                    `${options.operator} ` +
+                    util.inspect(options.expected).slice(0, 128);
+    super(message);
+    this.generatedMessage = !options.message;
+    this.name = 'AssertionError [ERR_ASSERTION]';
+    this.code = 'ERR_ASSERTION';
+    this.actual = options.actual;
+    this.expected = options.expected;
+    this.operator = options.operator;
+    var stackStartFunction = options.stackStartFunction || fail;
+    Error.captureStackTrace(this, stackStartFunction);
+  }
 }
 
-function getMessage(self) {
-  return truncate(util.inspect(self.actual), 128) + ' ' +
-         self.operator + ' ' +
-         truncate(util.inspect(self.expected), 128);
-}
+assert.AssertionError = AssertionError;
 
 // At present only the three keys mentioned above are used and
 // understood by the spec. Implementations or sub modules can pass
@@ -83,7 +89,7 @@ function fail(actual, expected, message, operator, stackStartFunction) {
     message = actual;
   if (arguments.length === 2)
     operator = '!=';
-  throw new assert.AssertionError({
+  throw new AssertionError({
     message: message,
     actual: actual,
     expected: expected,
diff --git a/test/message/error_exit.out b/test/message/error_exit.out
index c1b778d6e90101..f6ac80794b7154 100644
--- a/test/message/error_exit.out
+++ b/test/message/error_exit.out
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 Exiting with code=1
-
 assert.js:*
-  throw new assert.AssertionError({
+  throw new AssertionError({
   ^
-AssertionError: 1 === 2
+
+AssertionError [ERR_ASSERTION]: 1 === 2
     at Object.<anonymous> (*test*message*error_exit.js:*:*)
     at Module._compile (module.js:*:*)
     at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:*:*)
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js b/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js
index c050beeed6f670..027af935600565 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert-checktag.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
-require('../common');
+const common = require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 const util = require('util');
 
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ function re(literals, ...values) {
     result += str.replace(/[\\^$.*+?()[\]{}|=!<>:-]/g, '\\$&');
     result += literals[i + 1];
   }
-  return new RegExp('^AssertionError: ' + result + '$');
+  return common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: new RegExp(`^${result}$`)
+  });
 }
 
 // Turn off no-restricted-properties because we are testing deepEqual!
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js b/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
index 70f538d91912e4..e54377bdbbfeb7 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert-deep.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
-require('../common');
+const common = require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 const util = require('util');
 
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ function re(literals, ...values) {
     result += str.replace(/[\\^$.*+?()[\]{}|=!<>:-]/g, '\\$&');
     result += literals[i + 1];
   }
-  return new RegExp(`^AssertionError: ${result}$`);
+  return common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: new RegExp(`^${result}$`)
+  });
 }
 
 // The following deepEqual tests might seem very weird.
@@ -112,8 +115,10 @@ for (const a of similar) {
 
 assert.throws(
   () => { assert.deepEqual(new Set([{a: 0}]), new Set([{a: 1}])); },
-  /^AssertionError: Set { { a: 0 } } deepEqual Set { { a: 1 } }$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^Set { { a: 0 } } deepEqual Set { { a: 1 } }$/
+  }));
 
 function assertDeepAndStrictEqual(a, b) {
   assert.deepEqual(a, b);
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert-fail.js b/test/parallel/test-assert-fail.js
index 5a321c6bb3b708..1f389933bb4a9c 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert-fail.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert-fail.js
@@ -1,33 +1,53 @@
 'use strict';
-require('../common');
+const common = require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 // no args
 assert.throws(
   () => { assert.fail(); },
-  /^AssertionError: undefined undefined undefined$/
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    type: assert.AssertionError,
+    message: 'undefined undefined undefined'
+  })
 );
 
 // one arg = message
 assert.throws(
   () => { assert.fail('custom message'); },
-  /^AssertionError: custom message$/
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    type: assert.AssertionError,
+    message: 'custom message'
+  })
 );
 
 // two args only, operator defaults to '!='
 assert.throws(
   () => { assert.fail('first', 'second'); },
-  /^AssertionError: 'first' != 'second'$/
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    type: assert.AssertionError,
+    message: '\'first\' != \'second\''
+  })
 );
 
 // three args
 assert.throws(
   () => { assert.fail('ignored', 'ignored', 'another custom message'); },
-  /^AssertionError: another custom message$/
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    type: assert.AssertionError,
+    message: 'another custom message'
+  })
 );
 
 // no third arg (but a fourth arg)
 assert.throws(
   () => { assert.fail('first', 'second', undefined, 'operator'); },
-  /^AssertionError: 'first' operator 'second'$/
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    type: assert.AssertionError,
+    message: '\'first\' operator \'second\''
+  })
 );
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert.js b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
index 89a54df81a705c..9793a3bc3ade4a 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
@@ -110,21 +110,44 @@ assert.doesNotThrow(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, /a/i, /a/i));
 assert.doesNotThrow(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, /a/m, /a/m));
 assert.doesNotThrow(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, /a/igm, /a/igm));
 assert.throws(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, /ab/, /a/),
-              /^AssertionError: \/ab\/ deepEqual \/a\/$/);
+              common.expectsError({
+                code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+                type: a.AssertionError,
+                message: /^\/ab\/ deepEqual \/a\/$/
+              }));
 assert.throws(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, /a/g, /a/),
-              /^AssertionError: \/a\/g deepEqual \/a\/$/);
+              common.expectsError({
+                code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+                type: a.AssertionError,
+                message: /^\/a\/g deepEqual \/a\/$/
+              }));
 assert.throws(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, /a/i, /a/),
-              /^AssertionError: \/a\/i deepEqual \/a\/$/);
+              common.expectsError({
+                code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+                type: a.AssertionError,
+                message: /^\/a\/i deepEqual \/a\/$/
+              }));
 assert.throws(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, /a/m, /a/),
-              /^AssertionError: \/a\/m deepEqual \/a\/$/);
+              common.expectsError({
+                code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+                type: a.AssertionError,
+                message: /^\/a\/m deepEqual \/a\/$/
+              }));
 assert.throws(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, /a/igm, /a/im),
-              /^AssertionError: \/a\/gim deepEqual \/a\/im$/);
+              common.expectsError({
+                code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+                type: a.AssertionError,
+                message: /^\/a\/gim deepEqual \/a\/im$/
+              }));
 
 {
   const re1 = /a/g;
   re1.lastIndex = 3;
   assert.doesNotThrow(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, re1, /a/g),
-                      /^AssertionError: \/a\/g deepEqual \/a\/g$/);
+                      common.expectsError({
+                        code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+                        message: /^\/a\/g deepEqual \/a\/g$/
+                      }));
 }
 
 assert.doesNotThrow(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, 4, '4'), 'deepEqual(4, \'4\')');
@@ -232,24 +255,39 @@ assert.doesNotThrow(makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, /a/m, /a/m));
 assert.doesNotThrow(makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, /a/igm, /a/igm));
 assert.throws(
   makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, /ab/, /a/),
-  /^AssertionError: \/ab\/ deepStrictEqual \/a\/$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    type: a.AssertionError,
+    message: /^\/ab\/ deepStrictEqual \/a\/$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, /a/g, /a/),
-  /^AssertionError: \/a\/g deepStrictEqual \/a\/$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    type: a.AssertionError,
+    message: /^\/a\/g deepStrictEqual \/a\/$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, /a/i, /a/),
-  /^AssertionError: \/a\/i deepStrictEqual \/a\/$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    type: a.AssertionError,
+    message: /^\/a\/i deepStrictEqual \/a\/$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, /a/m, /a/),
-  /^AssertionError: \/a\/m deepStrictEqual \/a\/$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    type: a.AssertionError,
+    message: /^\/a\/m deepStrictEqual \/a\/$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, /a/igm, /a/im),
-  /^AssertionError: \/a\/gim deepStrictEqual \/a\/im$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    type: a.AssertionError,
+    message: /^\/a\/gim deepStrictEqual \/a\/im$/
+  }));
 
 {
   const re1 = /a/;
@@ -275,11 +313,23 @@ assert.doesNotThrow(makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual,
                               {a: 4, b: '2'},
                               {a: 4, b: '2'}));
 assert.throws(makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, [4], ['4']),
-              /^AssertionError: \[ 4 ] deepStrictEqual \[ '4' ]$/);
+              common.expectsError({
+                code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+                type: a.AssertionError,
+                message: /^\[ 4 ] deepStrictEqual \[ '4' ]$/
+              }));
 assert.throws(makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, {a: 4}, {a: 4, b: true}),
-              /^AssertionError: { a: 4 } deepStrictEqual { a: 4, b: true }$/);
+              common.expectsError({
+                code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+                type: a.AssertionError,
+                message: /^{ a: 4 } deepStrictEqual { a: 4, b: true }$/
+              }));
 assert.throws(makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, ['a'], {0: 'a'}),
-              /^AssertionError: \[ 'a' ] deepStrictEqual { '0': 'a' }$/);
+              common.expectsError({
+                code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+                type: a.AssertionError,
+                message: /^\[ 'a' ] deepStrictEqual { '0': 'a' }$/
+              }));
 //(although not necessarily the same order),
 assert.doesNotThrow(makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual,
                               {a: 4, b: '1'},
@@ -349,7 +399,7 @@ assert.throws(makeBlock(a.deepStrictEqual, new Boolean(true), {}),
 
 // Testing the throwing
 function thrower(errorConstructor) {
-  throw new errorConstructor('test');
+  throw new errorConstructor({});
 }
 
 // the basic calls work
@@ -430,11 +480,11 @@ assert.throws(() => {
 }
 
 // use a RegExp to validate error message
-a.throws(makeBlock(thrower, TypeError), /test/);
+a.throws(makeBlock(thrower, TypeError), /\[object Object\]/);
 
 // use a fn to validate error object
 a.throws(makeBlock(thrower, TypeError), function(err) {
-  if ((err instanceof TypeError) && /test/.test(err)) {
+  if ((err instanceof TypeError) && /\[object Object\]/.test(err)) {
     return true;
   }
 });
@@ -510,23 +560,31 @@ a.throws(makeBlock(a.deepEqual, args, []));
 {
   assert.throws(
     () => { a.throws(common.noop); },
-    /^AssertionError: Missing expected exception\.$/
-  );
+    common.expectsError({
+      code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+      message: /^Missing expected exception\.$/
+    }));
 
   assert.throws(
     () => { a.throws(common.noop, TypeError); },
-    /^AssertionError: Missing expected exception \(TypeError\)\.$/
-  );
+    common.expectsError({
+      code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+      message: /^Missing expected exception \(TypeError\)\.$/
+    }));
 
   assert.throws(
     () => { a.throws(common.noop, 'fhqwhgads'); },
-    /^AssertionError: Missing expected exception: fhqwhgads$/
-  );
+    common.expectsError({
+      code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+      message: /^Missing expected exception: fhqwhgads$/
+    }));
 
   assert.throws(
     () => { a.throws(common.noop, TypeError, 'fhqwhgads'); },
-    /^AssertionError: Missing expected exception \(TypeError\): fhqwhgads$/
-  );
+    common.expectsError({
+      code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+      message: /^Missing expected exception \(TypeError\): fhqwhgads$/
+    }));
 }
 
 const circular = {y: 1};
@@ -536,8 +594,8 @@ function testAssertionMessage(actual, expected) {
   try {
     assert.strictEqual(actual, '');
   } catch (e) {
-    assert.strictEqual(e.toString(),
-                       ['AssertionError:', expected, '===', '\'\''].join(' '));
+    assert.strictEqual(e.message,
+                       [expected, '===', '\'\''].join(' '));
     assert.ok(e.generatedMessage, 'Message not marked as generated');
   }
 }
@@ -584,14 +642,14 @@ testAssertionMessage({a: NaN, b: Infinity, c: -Infinity},
 try {
   assert.strictEqual(1, 2);
 } catch (e) {
-  assert.strictEqual(e.toString().split('\n')[0], 'AssertionError: 1 === 2');
+  assert.strictEqual(e.message.split('\n')[0], '1 === 2');
   assert.ok(e.generatedMessage, 'Message not marked as generated');
 }
 
 try {
   assert.strictEqual(1, 2, 'oh no');
 } catch (e) {
-  assert.strictEqual(e.toString().split('\n')[0], 'AssertionError: oh no');
+  assert.strictEqual(e.message.split('\n')[0], 'oh no');
   assert.strictEqual(e.generatedMessage, false,
                      'Message incorrectly marked as generated');
 }
@@ -638,6 +696,16 @@ assert.throws(() => { throw new Error(); }, (err) => err instanceof Error);
 // Long values should be truncated for display.
 assert.throws(() => {
   assert.strictEqual('A'.repeat(1000), '');
-}, new RegExp(`^AssertionError: '${'A'.repeat(127)} === ''$`));
+}, common.expectsError({
+  code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+  message: new RegExp(`^'${'A'.repeat(127)} === ''$`)}));
 
-console.log('All OK');
+[1, true, false, '', null, Infinity, Symbol('test')].forEach((input) => {
+  assert.throws(
+    () => new assert.AssertionError(input),
+    common.expectsError({
+      code: 'ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE',
+      type: TypeError,
+      message: /^The "options" argument must be of type object$/
+    }));
+});
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-common.js b/test/parallel/test-common.js
index 201fa40d08ac25..2bda20acd94852 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-common.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-common.js
@@ -43,5 +43,7 @@ assert.throws(function() {
 // assert.fail() tests
 assert.throws(
   () => { assert.fail('fhqwhgads'); },
-  /^AssertionError: fhqwhgads$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^fhqwhgads$/
+  }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-console.js b/test/parallel/test-console.js
index 89825cf3d106ee..a8aa93a3bd440e 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-console.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-console.js
@@ -151,7 +151,10 @@ assert.strictEqual(errStrings.length, 0);
 
 assert.throws(() => {
   console.assert(false, 'should throw');
-}, /^AssertionError: should throw$/);
+}, common.expectsError({
+  code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+  message: /^should throw$/
+}));
 
 assert.doesNotThrow(() => {
   console.assert(true, 'this should not throw');
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-dgram-create-socket-handle.js b/test/parallel/test-dgram-create-socket-handle.js
index 559d92be98d42d..a593324de85418 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-dgram-create-socket-handle.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-dgram-create-socket-handle.js
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ const _createSocketHandle = dgram._createSocketHandle;
 // Throws if an "existing fd" is passed in.
 assert.throws(() => {
   _createSocketHandle(common.localhostIPv4, 0, 'udp4', 42);
-}, /^AssertionError: false == true$/);
+}, common.expectsError({
+  code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+  message: /^false == true$/
+}));
 
 {
   // Create a handle that is not bound.
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-internal-errors.js b/test/parallel/test-internal-errors.js
index 4157ca0008ebe8..c97b522e4a6abb 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-internal-errors.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-internal-errors.js
@@ -41,47 +41,89 @@ assert.strictEqual(err5.code, 'TEST_ERROR_1');
 
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error('TEST_FOO_KEY'),
-  /^AssertionError: An invalid error message key was used: TEST_FOO_KEY\.$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^An invalid error message key was used: TEST_FOO_KEY\.$/
+  }));
 // Calling it twice yields same result (using the key does not create it)
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error('TEST_FOO_KEY'),
-  /^AssertionError: An invalid error message key was used: TEST_FOO_KEY\.$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^An invalid error message key was used: TEST_FOO_KEY\.$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error(1),
-  /^AssertionError: 'number' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'number' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error({}),
-  /^AssertionError: 'object' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error([]),
-  /^AssertionError: 'object' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.Error(true),
-  /^AssertionError: 'boolean' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'boolean' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.TypeError(1),
-  /^AssertionError: 'number' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'number' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.TypeError({}),
-  /^AssertionError: 'object' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.TypeError([]),
-  /^AssertionError: 'object' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.TypeError(true),
-  /^AssertionError: 'boolean' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'boolean' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.RangeError(1),
-  /^AssertionError: 'number' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'number' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.RangeError({}),
-  /^AssertionError: 'object' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.RangeError([]),
-  /^AssertionError: 'object' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'object' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 assert.throws(
   () => new errors.RangeError(true),
-  /^AssertionError: 'boolean' === 'string'$/);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^'boolean' === 'string'$/
+  }));
 
 
 // Tests for common.expectsError
@@ -115,7 +157,10 @@ assert.throws(() => {
   assert.throws(() => {
     throw new errors.TypeError('TEST_ERROR_1', 'a');
   }, common.expectsError({ code: 'TEST_ERROR_1', type: RangeError }));
-}, /^AssertionError: .+ is not the expected type \S/);
+}, common.expectsError({
+  code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+  message: /^.+ is not the expected type \S/
+}));
 
 assert.throws(() => {
   assert.throws(() => {
@@ -123,7 +168,10 @@ assert.throws(() => {
   }, common.expectsError({ code: 'TEST_ERROR_1',
                            type: TypeError,
                            message: /^Error for testing 2/ }));
-}, /AssertionError: .+ does not match \S/);
+}, common.expectsError({
+  code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+  message: /.+ does not match \S/
+}));
 
 // // Test ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE
 assert.strictEqual(errors.message('ERR_INVALID_ARG_TYPE', ['a', 'b']),
@@ -156,8 +204,10 @@ assert.strictEqual(errors.message('ERR_INVALID_URL_SCHEME', [['a', 'b', 'c']]),
                    'The URL must be one of scheme a, b, or c');
 assert.throws(
   () => errors.message('ERR_INVALID_URL_SCHEME', [[]]),
-  /^AssertionError: At least one expected value needs to be specified$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^At least one expected value needs to be specified$/
+  }));
 
 // Test ERR_MISSING_ARGS
 assert.strictEqual(errors.message('ERR_MISSING_ARGS', ['name']),
@@ -168,5 +218,7 @@ assert.strictEqual(errors.message('ERR_MISSING_ARGS', ['a', 'b', 'c']),
                    'The "a", "b", and "c" arguments must be specified');
 assert.throws(
   () => errors.message('ERR_MISSING_ARGS'),
-  /^AssertionError: At least one arg needs to be specified$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^At least one arg needs to be specified$/
+  }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-module-loading-error.js b/test/parallel/test-module-loading-error.js
index 76c348b774f5d5..fb8ddf5a66b794 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-module-loading-error.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-module-loading-error.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 // USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
 'use strict';
-require('../common');
+const common = require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const error_desc = {
@@ -44,10 +44,14 @@ assert.throws(
 
 assert.throws(
   require,
-  /^AssertionError: missing path$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^missing path$/
+  }));
 
 assert.throws(
   () => { require({}); },
-  /^AssertionError: path must be a string$/
-);
+  common.expectsError({
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    message: /^path must be a string$/
+  }));
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-stream-inheritance.js b/test/parallel/test-stream-inheritance.js
index 77dc4804c1f986..8ca7ae1f1e50c0 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-stream-inheritance.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-stream-inheritance.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
-require('../common');
+const common = require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
 const { Readable, Writable, Duplex, Transform } = require('stream');
 
@@ -42,4 +42,8 @@ Object.setPrototypeOf(CustomWritable.prototype, Writable.prototype);
 
 new CustomWritable();
 
-assert.throws(CustomWritable, /AssertionError: inherits from Writable/);
+assert.throws(CustomWritable,
+              common.expectsError({
+                code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+                message: /^inherits from Writable$/
+              }));