diff --git a/lib/route.js b/lib/route.js
index fae3f1f8f..aee908800 100755
--- a/lib/route.js
+++ b/lib/route.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 'use strict';
 
+const Assert = require('assert');
 const Boom = require('boom');
 const Bounce = require('bounce');
 const Catbox = require('catbox');
@@ -357,11 +358,17 @@ exports = module.exports = internals.Route = class {
             return;
         }
 
-        if (this.method[0] === '_') {
-            throw new Error(message);
+        if (this.method[0] !== '_') {
+            message = `${message}: ${this.method.toUpperCase()} ${this.path}`;
         }
 
-        throw new Error(`${message}: ${this.method.toUpperCase()} ${this.path}`);
+        throw new Assert.AssertionError({
+            message,
+            actual: false,
+            expected: true,
+            operator: '==',
+            stackStartFunction: this._assert
+        });
     }
 };