diff --git a/tests/test_bgp_route_exchange.c b/tests/test_bgp_route_exchange.c
index e07a9048..2aef4a06 100644
--- a/tests/test_bgp_route_exchange.c
+++ b/tests/test_bgp_route_exchange.c
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ static void fail(const char* msg) {
     DEBUG_INFO(DEBUG_CATEGORY_BGP, "=== PHASE: %s ===", name); \
 } while(0)
 
-#define ASSERT(cond, msg) do { if (!(cond)) { fail(msg); return; } } while(0)
+#define ASSERT(cond, msg) do { if (!(cond)) { fail(msg); return -1; } } while(0)
 
 // Poll until condition is met or timeout (clock-based)
 static int wait_for(const char* desc, int (*cond)(void), int timeout_tb) {
diff --git a/tests/test_ll_queue.c b/tests/test_ll_queue.c
index 90abc86f..882845ea 100644
--- a/tests/test_ll_queue.c
+++ b/tests/test_ll_queue.c
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ static struct {
 #define PASS()      do { puts("PASS"); stats.passed++; } while(0)
 #define FAIL(msg)   do { printf("FAIL: %s\n", msg); stats.failed++; } while(0)
 
-#define ASSERT(c, m) do { if (!(c)) { FAIL(m); return; } } while(0)
+#define ASSERT(c, m) do { if (!(c)) { FAIL(m); return -1; } } while(0)
 #define ASSERT_EQ(a,b,m) ASSERT((a)==(b),m)
 
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------------ */
diff --git a/tests/test_nat_engine.c b/tests/test_nat_engine.c
index b51b342f..c60793c7 100644
--- a/tests/test_nat_engine.c
+++ b/tests/test_nat_engine.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ static struct {
 #define PASS()      do { puts("PASS"); stats.passed++; } while(0)
 #define FAIL(msg)   do { printf("FAIL: %s\n", msg); stats.failed++; } while(0)
 
-#define ASSERT(c, m) do { if (!(c)) { FAIL(m); return; } } while(0)
+#define ASSERT(c, m) do { if (!(c)) { FAIL(m); return -1; } } while(0)
 #define ASSERT_EQ(a,b,m) ASSERT((a)==(b),m)
 
 /* ================================================================
diff --git a/tests/test_nat_stress.c b/tests/test_nat_stress.c
index d1ee3781..5d68bc02 100644
--- a/tests/test_nat_stress.c
+++ b/tests/test_nat_stress.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ static struct {
 #define PASS()      do { puts("PASS"); stats.passed++; } while(0)
 #define FAIL(msg)   do { printf("FAIL: %s\n", msg); stats.failed++; } while(0)
 
-#define ASSERT(c, m) do { if (!(c)) { FAIL(m); return; } } while(0)
+#define ASSERT(c, m) do { if (!(c)) { FAIL(m); return -1; } } while(0)
 #define ASSERT_EQ(a,b,m) ASSERT((a)==(b),m)
 
 static double now_ms(void) {
diff --git a/tests/test_route_lib.c b/tests/test_route_lib.c
index e7602354..f9c54cfb 100644
--- a/tests/test_route_lib.c
+++ b/tests/test_route_lib.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ static struct {
 #define PASS() do { puts("PASS"); stats.passed++; } while(0)
 #define FAIL(msg) do { printf("FAIL: %s\n", msg); stats.failed++; } while(0)
 
-#define ASSERT(c, m) do { if (!(c)) { FAIL(m); return; } } while(0)
+#define ASSERT(c, m) do { if (!(c)) { FAIL(m); return -1; } } while(0)
 #define ASSERT_EQ(a,b,m) ASSERT((a)==(b),m)
 #define ASSERT_PTR(p,m) ASSERT((p)!=NULL,m)