diff --git a/src/Linkification/Linkify.coffee b/src/Linkification/Linkify.coffee
index 2b67337c8..f531be459 100644
--- a/src/Linkification/Linkify.coffee
+++ b/src/Linkification/Linkify.coffee
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ Linkify =
 
         if Linkify.regString.test word
           links.push Linkify.makeRange node, endNode, index, length
-          <%= assert('word is links[links.length-1].toString()') %>
+          <%= assert('.tests_enabled', 'word is links[links.length-1].toString()') %>
 
         break unless test.lastIndex and node is endNode
 
diff --git a/tools/template.js b/tools/template.js
index fdd439c28..49792f7d9 100644
--- a/tools/template.js
+++ b/tools/template.js
@@ -161,8 +161,8 @@ obj.html = function(template) {
   return `(innerHTML: ${output})`;
 };
 
-obj.assert = function(statement) {
-  if (!obj.tests_enabled) return '';
+obj.assert = function(flagFile, statement) {
+  if (!readJSON(flagFile)) return '';
   return `throw new Error 'Assertion failed: ' + ${constExpression(statement)} unless ${statement}`;
 };