diff --git a/sal/osl/unx/diagnose.c b/sal/osl/unx/diagnose.c
index 5b46a615aa6b..38f11e07896b 100644
--- a/sal/osl/unx/diagnose.c
+++ b/sal/osl/unx/diagnose.c
@@ -230,10 +230,6 @@ sal_Bool SAL_CALL osl_assertFailedLine (
         return sal_False;
     }
 
-    /* if SAL assertions are disabled in general, stop here */
-    if ( getenv("DISABLE_SAL_DBGBOX") )
-        return doAbort;
-
     /* format message into buffer */
     if (pszMessage != 0)
     {
diff --git a/sal/osl/w32/diagnose.c b/sal/osl/w32/diagnose.c
index ee39a200063e..3c6b0c9c0cb9 100644
--- a/sal/osl/w32/diagnose.c
+++ b/sal/osl/w32/diagnose.c
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 
 #include "system.h"
 
+#include <stdio.h>
+
 #include <osl/diagnose.h>
 
 static pfunc_osl_printDebugMessage  _pPrintDebugMessage = NULL;
@@ -119,6 +121,10 @@ sal_Bool SAL_CALL osl_assertFailedLine(const sal_Char* pszFileName, sal_Int32 nL
             if (nCode == IDCANCEL)
                 return sal_True;    /* will cause oslDebugBreak */
         }
+        else
+        {
+            fputs(szMessage, stderr); // fall back
+        }
         return ( ( env != NULL ) && ( *env != '\0' ) );
     }