diff --git a/pkg/analyzer/lib/src/kernel/resynthesize.dart b/pkg/analyzer/lib/src/kernel/resynthesize.dart
index 489bc4e1705..01f88a8692d 100644
--- a/pkg/analyzer/lib/src/kernel/resynthesize.dart
+++ b/pkg/analyzer/lib/src/kernel/resynthesize.dart
@@ -354,11 +354,21 @@ class _ExprBuilder {
       return initializer;
     }
 
-    if (k is kernel.AssertInitializer) {
-      var body = k.statement;
-      var condition = build(body.condition);
-      var message = body.message != null ? build(body.message) : null;
-      return AstTestFactory.assertInitializer(condition, message);
+    if (k is kernel.LocalInitializer) {
+      var invocation = k.variable.initializer;
+      if (invocation is kernel.MethodInvocation) {
+        var receiver = invocation.receiver;
+        if (receiver is kernel.FunctionExpression &&
+            invocation.name.name == 'call') {
+          var body = receiver.function.body;
+          if (body is kernel.AssertStatement) {
+            var condition = build(body.condition);
+            var message = body.message != null ? build(body.message) : null;
+            return AstTestFactory.assertInitializer(condition, message);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      throw new StateError('Expected assert initializer $k');
     }
 
     if (k is kernel.RedirectingInitializer) {
diff --git a/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/kernel/body_builder.dart b/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/kernel/body_builder.dart
index 1243dd1aaa3..81eacb65fc8 100644
--- a/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/kernel/body_builder.dart
+++ b/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/kernel/body_builder.dart
@@ -2941,11 +2941,33 @@ class BodyBuilder extends ScopeListener<JumpTarget> implements BuilderHelper {
         break;
 
       case Assert.Initializer:
-        push(new ShadowAssertInitializer(statement));
+        push(buildAssertInitializer(statement));
         break;
     }
   }
 
+  Initializer buildAssertInitializer(AssertStatement statement) {
+    // Since kernel only has asserts in statment form, we convert it to an
+    // expression by wrapping it in an anonymous function which we call
+    // immediately.
+    //
+    // Additionally, kernel has no initializer that evaluates an expression,
+    // but it does have `LocalInitializer` which requires a variable declartion.
+    //
+    // So we produce an initializer like this:
+    //
+    //    var #t0 = (() { statement; }) ()
+    return new ShadowAssertInitializer(
+        new VariableDeclaration.forValue(buildMethodInvocation(
+            new FunctionExpression(new FunctionNode(statement)),
+            callName,
+            new Arguments.empty(),
+            statement.fileOffset,
+            isConstantExpression: true,
+            isImplicitCall: true)),
+        statement);
+  }
+
   @override
   void endYieldStatement(Token yieldToken, Token starToken, Token endToken) {
     debugEvent("YieldStatement");
diff --git a/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/kernel/kernel_shadow_ast.dart b/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/kernel/kernel_shadow_ast.dart
index 4e0d7a584f0..b3fcd4433e2 100644
--- a/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/kernel/kernel_shadow_ast.dart
+++ b/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/kernel/kernel_shadow_ast.dart
@@ -119,14 +119,18 @@ class ShadowAsExpression extends AsExpression implements ShadowExpression {
 }
 
 /// Concrete shadow object representing an assert initializer in kernel form.
-class ShadowAssertInitializer extends AssertInitializer
+class ShadowAssertInitializer extends LocalInitializer
     implements ShadowInitializer {
-  ShadowAssertInitializer(AssertStatement statement) : super(statement);
+  /// The assert statement performing the check
+  AssertStatement _statement;
+
+  ShadowAssertInitializer(VariableDeclaration variable, this._statement)
+      : super(variable);
 
   @override
   void _inferInitializer(ShadowTypeInferrer inferrer) {
     inferrer.listener.assertInitializerEnter(this);
-    inferrer.inferStatement(statement);
+    inferrer.inferStatement(_statement);
     inferrer.listener.assertInitializerExit(this);
   }
 }
diff --git a/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/type_inference/type_inference_listener.dart b/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/type_inference/type_inference_listener.dart
index a6d7113b239..e8c364297d4 100644
--- a/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/type_inference/type_inference_listener.dart
+++ b/pkg/front_end/lib/src/fasta/type_inference/type_inference_listener.dart
@@ -107,10 +107,10 @@ class TypeInferenceListener
   void asExpressionExit(AsExpression expression, DartType inferredType) =>
       genericExpressionExit("asExpression", expression, inferredType);
 
-  void assertInitializerEnter(AssertInitializer initializer) =>
+  void assertInitializerEnter(LocalInitializer initializer) =>
       genericInitializerEnter("assertInitializer", initializer);
 
-  void assertInitializerExit(AssertInitializer initializer) =>
+  void assertInitializerExit(LocalInitializer initializer) =>
       genericInitializerExit("assertInitializer", initializer);
 
   void assertStatementEnter(AssertStatement statement) =>
diff --git a/pkg/front_end/testcases/inference/assert_initializer.dart.direct.expect b/pkg/front_end/testcases/inference/assert_initializer.dart.direct.expect
index 602da122444..37c1eede8ba 100644
--- a/pkg/front_end/testcases/inference/assert_initializer.dart.direct.expect
+++ b/pkg/front_end/testcases/inference/assert_initializer.dart.direct.expect
@@ -4,10 +4,14 @@ import "dart:core" as core;
 
 class C extends core::Object {
   constructor expressionOnly() → void
-    : assert(self::f<dynamic>()), super core::Object::•()
+    : final dynamic #t1 = (() → dynamic
+      assert(self::f<dynamic>());
+).call(), super core::Object::•()
     ;
   constructor expressionAndMessage() → void
-    : assert(self::f<dynamic>(), self::f<dynamic>()), super core::Object::•()
+    : final dynamic #t2 = (() → dynamic
+      assert(self::f<dynamic>(), self::f<dynamic>());
+).call(), super core::Object::•()
     ;
 }
 static method f<T extends core::Object>() → self::f::T
diff --git a/pkg/front_end/testcases/inference/assert_initializer.dart.strong.expect b/pkg/front_end/testcases/inference/assert_initializer.dart.strong.expect
index 27f0c32931a..ecd205de70f 100644
--- a/pkg/front_end/testcases/inference/assert_initializer.dart.strong.expect
+++ b/pkg/front_end/testcases/inference/assert_initializer.dart.strong.expect
@@ -4,10 +4,14 @@ import "dart:core" as core;
 
 class C extends core::Object {
   constructor expressionOnly() → void
-    : assert(self::f<core::bool>()), super core::Object::•()
+    : final dynamic #t1 = (() → dynamic
+      assert(self::f<core::bool>());
+).call(), super core::Object::•()
     ;
   constructor expressionAndMessage() → void
-    : assert(self::f<core::bool>(), self::f<dynamic>()), super core::Object::•()
+    : final dynamic #t2 = (() → dynamic
+      assert(self::f<core::bool>(), self::f<dynamic>());
+).call(), super core::Object::•()
     ;
 }
 static method f<T extends core::Object>() → self::f::T
diff --git a/pkg/front_end/testcases/runtime_checks/implicit_downcast_assert_initializer.dart.direct.expect b/pkg/front_end/testcases/runtime_checks/implicit_downcast_assert_initializer.dart.direct.expect
index c72d875497f..5871a4e3404 100644
--- a/pkg/front_end/testcases/runtime_checks/implicit_downcast_assert_initializer.dart.direct.expect
+++ b/pkg/front_end/testcases/runtime_checks/implicit_downcast_assert_initializer.dart.direct.expect
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ import "dart:core" as core;
 
 class C extends core::Object {
   constructor •(core::Object o) → void
-    : assert(o), super core::Object::•()
+    : final dynamic #t1 = (() → dynamic
+      assert(o);
+).call(), super core::Object::•()
     ;
 }
 static method main() → dynamic {
diff --git a/pkg/front_end/testcases/runtime_checks/implicit_downcast_assert_initializer.dart.strong.expect b/pkg/front_end/testcases/runtime_checks/implicit_downcast_assert_initializer.dart.strong.expect
index 7d2a4f16efd..3b9eddc4ff9 100644
--- a/pkg/front_end/testcases/runtime_checks/implicit_downcast_assert_initializer.dart.strong.expect
+++ b/pkg/front_end/testcases/runtime_checks/implicit_downcast_assert_initializer.dart.strong.expect
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ import "dart:core" as core;
 
 class C extends core::Object {
   constructor •(core::Object o) → void
-    : assert(o as{TypeError} core::bool), super core::Object::•()
+    : final dynamic #t1 = (() → dynamic
+      assert(o as{TypeError} core::bool);
+).call(), super core::Object::•()
     ;
 }
 static method main() → dynamic {
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/binary.md b/pkg/kernel/binary.md
index 9556f070037..561778c5374 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/binary.md
+++ b/pkg/kernel/binary.md
@@ -408,12 +408,6 @@ type LocalInitializer extends Initializer {
   VariableDeclaration variable;
 }
 
-type AssertInitializer extends Initializer {
-  Byte tag = 12;
-  Byte isSynthetic;
-  AssertStatement statement;
-}
-
 /*
 enum AsyncMarker {
   Sync,
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/lib/ast.dart b/pkg/kernel/lib/ast.dart
index a64931739e8..e9505e46a45 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/lib/ast.dart
+++ b/pkg/kernel/lib/ast.dart
@@ -1759,25 +1759,6 @@ class LocalInitializer extends Initializer {
   }
 }
 
-class AssertInitializer extends Initializer {
-  AssertStatement statement;
-
-  AssertInitializer(this.statement) {
-    statement.parent = this;
-  }
-
-  accept(InitializerVisitor v) => v.visitAssertInitializer(this);
-
-  visitChildren(Visitor v) {
-    statement.accept(v);
-  }
-
-  transformChildren(Transformer v) {
-    statement = statement.accept(v);
-    statement.parent = this;
-  }
-}
-
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //                            FUNCTIONS
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/ast_from_binary.dart b/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/ast_from_binary.dart
index e755e16f81a..b783dc5da88 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/ast_from_binary.dart
+++ b/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/ast_from_binary.dart
@@ -1010,8 +1010,6 @@ class BinaryBuilder {
             readMemberReference(), readArguments());
       case Tag.LocalInitializer:
         return new LocalInitializer(readAndPushVariableDeclaration());
-      case Tag.AssertInitializer:
-        return new AssertInitializer(readStatement());
       default:
         throw fail('Invalid initializer tag: $tag');
     }
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/ast_to_binary.dart b/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/ast_to_binary.dart
index 59e4938e656..a7d741b0ee0 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/ast_to_binary.dart
+++ b/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/ast_to_binary.dart
@@ -833,12 +833,6 @@ class BinaryPrinter extends Visitor implements BinarySink {
     writeVariableDeclaration(node.variable);
   }
 
-  visitAssertInitializer(AssertInitializer node) {
-    writeByte(Tag.AssertInitializer);
-    writeByte(node.isSynthetic ? 1 : 0);
-    writeNode(node.statement);
-  }
-
   visitFunctionNode(FunctionNode node) {
     writeByte(Tag.FunctionNode);
     assert(_variableIndexer != null);
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/tag.dart b/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/tag.dart
index 4fad0cd6e0b..1325ce33ac0 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/tag.dart
+++ b/pkg/kernel/lib/binary/tag.dart
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ class Tag {
   static const int SuperInitializer = 9;
   static const int RedirectingInitializer = 10;
   static const int LocalInitializer = 11;
-  static const int AssertInitializer = 12;
 
   static const int CheckLibraryIsLoaded = 13;
   static const int LoadLibrary = 14;
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/lib/text/ast_to_text.dart b/pkg/kernel/lib/text/ast_to_text.dart
index ce21cfe4537..355176896ff 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/lib/text/ast_to_text.dart
+++ b/pkg/kernel/lib/text/ast_to_text.dart
@@ -1425,10 +1425,8 @@ class Printer extends Visitor<Null> {
     endLine(';');
   }
 
-  visitAssertStatement(AssertStatement node, {bool asExpr = false}) {
-    if (asExpr != true) {
-      writeIndentation();
-    }
+  visitAssertStatement(AssertStatement node) {
+    writeIndentation();
     writeWord('assert');
     writeSymbol('(');
     writeExpression(node.condition);
@@ -1436,11 +1434,7 @@ class Printer extends Visitor<Null> {
       writeComma();
       writeExpression(node.message);
     }
-    if (asExpr != true) {
-      endLine(');');
-    } else {
-      writeSymbol(')');
-    }
+    endLine(');');
   }
 
   visitLabeledStatement(LabeledStatement node) {
@@ -1712,10 +1706,6 @@ class Printer extends Visitor<Null> {
     writeVariableDeclaration(node.variable);
   }
 
-  visitAssertInitializer(AssertInitializer node) {
-    visitAssertStatement(node.statement, asExpr: true);
-  }
-
   defaultInitializer(Initializer node) {
     writeIndentation();
     endLine(': ${node.runtimeType}');
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/lib/type_checker.dart b/pkg/kernel/lib/type_checker.dart
index 6c8ccb0ecde..ba0d04bf44f 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/lib/type_checker.dart
+++ b/pkg/kernel/lib/type_checker.dart
@@ -998,11 +998,6 @@ class TypeCheckingVisitor
     visitVariableDeclaration(node.variable);
   }
 
-  @override
-  visitAssertInitializer(AssertInitializer node) {
-    visitAssertStatement(node.statement);
-  }
-
   @override
   visitInvalidInitializer(InvalidInitializer node) {}
 
diff --git a/pkg/kernel/lib/visitor.dart b/pkg/kernel/lib/visitor.dart
index 6db182d9f40..2c45328509c 100644
--- a/pkg/kernel/lib/visitor.dart
+++ b/pkg/kernel/lib/visitor.dart
@@ -120,7 +120,6 @@ abstract class InitializerVisitor<R> {
   R visitRedirectingInitializer(RedirectingInitializer node) =>
       defaultInitializer(node);
   R visitLocalInitializer(LocalInitializer node) => defaultInitializer(node);
-  R visitAssertInitializer(AssertInitializer node) => defaultInitializer(node);
 }
 
 class TreeVisitor<R>
@@ -236,7 +235,6 @@ class TreeVisitor<R>
   R visitRedirectingInitializer(RedirectingInitializer node) =>
       defaultInitializer(node);
   R visitLocalInitializer(LocalInitializer node) => defaultInitializer(node);
-  R visitAssertInitializer(AssertInitializer node) => defaultInitializer(node);
 
   // Other tree nodes
   R visitLibrary(Library node) => defaultTreeNode(node);
diff --git a/runtime/vm/compiler/frontend/kernel_binary_flowgraph.cc b/runtime/vm/compiler/frontend/kernel_binary_flowgraph.cc
index da2cd378571..13e1a549f25 100644
--- a/runtime/vm/compiler/frontend/kernel_binary_flowgraph.cc
+++ b/runtime/vm/compiler/frontend/kernel_binary_flowgraph.cc
@@ -1126,9 +1126,6 @@ void StreamingScopeBuilder::VisitInitializer() {
     case kLocalInitializer:
       VisitVariableDeclaration();  // read variable.
       return;
-    case kAssertInitializer:
-      VisitStatement();
-      return;
     default:
       H.ReportError("Unsupported tag at this point: %d.", tag);
       UNREACHABLE();
@@ -3726,10 +3723,6 @@ Fragment StreamingFlowGraphBuilder::BuildInitializers(
           instructions += BuildFieldInitializer(canonical_name);  // read value.
           break;
         }
-        case kAssertInitializer: {
-          instructions += BuildStatement();
-          break;
-        }
         case kSuperInitializer: {
           NameIndex canonical_target =
               ReadCanonicalNameReference();  // read target_reference.
@@ -4783,9 +4776,6 @@ void StreamingFlowGraphBuilder::SkipInitializer() {
     case kLocalInitializer:
       SkipVariableDeclaration();  // read variable.
       return;
-    case kAssertInitializer:
-      SkipStatement();
-      return;
     default:
       H.ReportError("Unsupported tag at this point: %d.", tag);
       UNREACHABLE();
diff --git a/runtime/vm/kernel_binary.h b/runtime/vm/kernel_binary.h
index edc7192c060..852448a752d 100644
--- a/runtime/vm/kernel_binary.h
+++ b/runtime/vm/kernel_binary.h
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ enum Tag {
   kSuperInitializer = 9,
   kRedirectingInitializer = 10,
   kLocalInitializer = 11,
-  kAssertInitializer = 12,
 
   kDirectPropertyGet = 15,
   kDirectPropertySet = 16,