diff --git a/assert/assert.h b/assert/assert.h
index 266a41df06..14d3be9cac 100644
--- a/assert/assert.h
+++ b/assert/assert.h
@@ -66,18 +66,18 @@ __BEGIN_DECLS
 /* This prints an "Assertion failed" message and aborts.  */
 extern void __assert_fail (const char *__assertion, const char *__file,
 			   unsigned int __line, const char *__function)
-     __THROW __attribute__ ((__noreturn__));
+     __THROW __attribute__ ((__noreturn__)) __COLD;
 
 /* Likewise, but prints the error text for ERRNUM.  */
 extern void __assert_perror_fail (int __errnum, const char *__file,
 				  unsigned int __line, const char *__function)
-     __THROW __attribute__ ((__noreturn__));
+     __THROW __attribute__ ((__noreturn__)) __COLD;
 
 
 /* The following is not at all used here but needed for standard
    compliance.  */
 extern void __assert (const char *__assertion, const char *__file, int __line)
-     __THROW __attribute__ ((__noreturn__));
+     __THROW __attribute__ ((__noreturn__)) __COLD;
 
 
 __END_DECLS