diff --git a/doc/developer-notes.md b/doc/developer-notes.md
--- a/doc/developer-notes.md
+++ b/doc/developer-notes.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
   - No space after function names; one space after `if`, `for` and `while`.
   - Always add braces for block statements (e.g. `if`, `for`, `while`).
   - `++i` is preferred over `i++`.
+  - `static_assert` is preferred over `assert` where possible.
+    Generally; compile-time checking is preferred over run-time checking.
   - Use CamelCase for functions/methods, and lowerCamelCase for variables.
     - GLOBAL_CONSTANTS should use UPPER_SNAKE_CASE.
     - namespaces should use lower_snake_case.
diff --git a/src/arith_uint256.h b/src/arith_uint256.h
--- a/src/arith_uint256.h
+++ b/src/arith_uint256.h
@@ -258,7 +258,8 @@
     unsigned int bits() const;
 
     uint64_t GetLow64() const {
-        assert(WIDTH >= 2);
+        static_assert(WIDTH >= 2, "Assertion WIDTH >= 2 failed (WIDTH = BITS / "
+                                  "32). BITS is a template parameter.");
         return pn[0] | (uint64_t)pn[1] << 32;
     }
 };