diff --git a/src/text-editor.coffee b/src/text-editor.coffee
index a61afea17..6ceedf943 100644
--- a/src/text-editor.coffee
+++ b/src/text-editor.coffee
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ class TextEditor extends Model
     throw new Error("Must pass a config parameter when constructing TextEditors") unless @config?
     throw new Error("Must pass a clipboard parameter when constructing TextEditors") unless @clipboard?
     throw new Error("Must pass a grammarRegistry parameter when constructing TextEditors") unless @grammarRegistry?
-    throw new Error("Must pass an assert parameter when constructing TextEditors") unless @assert?
 
+    @assert ?= @defaultAssert.bind(this)
     @firstVisibleScreenRow ?= 0
     @firstVisibleScreenColumn ?= 0
     @emitter = new Emitter
@@ -3365,6 +3365,9 @@ class TextEditor extends Model
     @emitter.emit 'will-insert-text', willInsertEvent
     result
 
+  defaultAssert: (condition, message, callback) ->
+    condition
+
   ###
   Section: Language Mode Delegated Methods
   ###