diff --git a/src/test/csrc/vcs/main.cpp b/src/test/csrc/vcs/main.cpp
index 1ec16409b12a49aa4704806b44718e0af4a79a0f..8359e0444e67c7623b81ef79809a28568512f135 100644
--- a/src/test/csrc/vcs/main.cpp
+++ b/src/test/csrc/vcs/main.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ extern "C" void simv_init() {
 }
 
 extern "C" void simv_step() {
-  if (difftest_step()) {
+  if (assert_count > 0 || difftest_step()) {
     printf("Difftest error\n");
+    exit(1);
   }
 }