diff --git a/src/lib/cc/ctassert.h b/src/lib/cc/ctassert.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7307bca53a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/cc/ctassert.h
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+/*-
+ * Copyright (c) 2018 Taylor R. Campbell
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
+ * ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+ * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+ * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
+ * OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
+ * HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
+ * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
+ * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
+ * SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * \file ctassert.h
+ *
+ * \brief Compile-time assertions: CTASSERT(expression).
+ */
+
+#ifndef TOR_CTASSERT_H
+#define TOR_CTASSERT_H
+
+#include "lib/cc/compat_compiler.h"
+
+/**
+ * CTASSERT(expression)
+ *
+ *	Trigger a compiler error if expression is false.
+ */
+#if __STDC_VERSION__ >= 201112L
+
+/* If C11 is available, just use _Static_assert.  */
+#define CTASSERT(x) _Static_assert(x, #x)
+
+#else
+
+/*
+ * If C11 is not available, expand __COUNTER__, or __INCLUDE_LEVEL__
+ * and __LINE__, or just __LINE__, with an intermediate preprocessor
+ * macro CTASSERT_EXPN, and then use CTASSERT_DECL to paste the
+ * expansions together into a unique name.
+ *
+ * We use this name as a typedef of an array type with a positive
+ * length if the assertion is true, and a negative length of the
+ * assertion is false, which is invalid and hence triggers a compiler
+ * error.
+ */
+#if defined(__COUNTER__)
+#define CTASSERT(x) CTASSERT_EXPN(x, c, __COUNTER__)
+#elif defined(__INCLUDE_LEVEL__)
+#define CTASSERT(x) CTASSERT_EXPN(x, __INCLUDE_LEVEL__, __LINE__)
+#else
+#define CTASSERT(x) CTASSERT_EXPN(x, l, __LINE__) /* hope it's unique enough */
+#endif
+
+#define CTASSERT_EXPN(x, a, b) CTASSERT_DECL(x, a, b)
+#define CTASSERT_DECL(x, a, b) \
+  typedef char tor_ctassert_##a##_##b[(x) ? 1 : -1] ATTR_UNUSED
+
+#endif
+
+#endif /* !defined(TOR_CTASSERT_H) */
diff --git a/src/lib/cc/include.am b/src/lib/cc/include.am
index 2ae90f97dd..52cf8a9f72 100644
--- a/src/lib/cc/include.am
+++ b/src/lib/cc/include.am
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 
 noinst_HEADERS += \
 	src/lib/cc/compat_compiler.h \
+	src/lib/cc/ctassert.h \
 	src/lib/cc/torint.h