diff --git a/polkadot/.gitlab-ci.yml b/polkadot/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 9451d778f4..317980a0e6 100644
--- a/polkadot/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/polkadot/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ build-linux-release:
     # extra features when building on `rococo-v1` branch and manual build on PRs
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME == "rococo-v1"
       variables:
-        EXTRA_FLAGS:               "--features=real-overseer"
+        EXTRA_FLAGS:               "--features=real-overseer -Cdebug-assertions=y"
     - if: $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME =~ /^[0-9]+$/                         # PRs
       variables:
         EXTRA_FLAGS:               "--features=real-overseer"