diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/x86/protection_keys.c b/tools/testing/selftests/x86/protection_keys.c
index a0f0a732784b..8537a7cfe1cc 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/x86/protection_keys.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/x86/protection_keys.c
@@ -72,10 +72,9 @@ extern void abort_hooks(void);
 				test_nr, iteration_nr);	\
 		dprintf0("errno at assert: %d", errno);	\
 		abort_hooks();			\
-		assert(condition);		\
+		exit(__LINE__);			\
 	}					\
 } while (0)
-#define raw_assert(cond) assert(cond)
 
 void cat_into_file(char *str, char *file)
 {
@@ -87,12 +86,17 @@ void cat_into_file(char *str, char *file)
 	 * these need to be raw because they are called under
 	 * pkey_assert()
 	 */
-	raw_assert(fd >= 0);
+	if (fd < 0) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "error opening '%s'\n", str);
+		perror("error: ");
+		exit(__LINE__);
+	}
+
 	ret = write(fd, str, strlen(str));
 	if (ret != strlen(str)) {
 		perror("write to file failed");
 		fprintf(stderr, "filename: '%s' str: '%s'\n", file, str);
-		raw_assert(0);
+		exit(__LINE__);
 	}
 	close(fd);
 }