diff --git a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/CallInterceptor.kt b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/CallInterceptor.kt
index 1f06fd558fe..b5e82c2decf 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/CallInterceptor.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/CallInterceptor.kt
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.builtins.interpretBinaryFunction
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.builtins.interpretTernaryFunction
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.builtins.interpretUnaryFunction
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.InterpreterError
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.verify
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.withExceptionHandler
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.intrinsics.IntrinsicEvaluator
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.proxy.wrap
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.stack.CallStack
@@ -141,7 +143,7 @@ internal class DefaultCallInterceptor(override val interpreter: IrInterpreter) :
             irClass.defaultType.isArray() || irClass.defaultType.isPrimitiveArray() -> {
                 // array constructor doesn't have body so must be treated separately
                 callStack.addVariable(Variable(irConstructor.symbol, KTypeState(constructorCall.type, irBuiltIns.anyClass.owner)))
-                assert(handleIntrinsicMethods(irConstructor)) { "Unsupported intrinsic constructor: ${irConstructor.render()}" }
+                verify(handleIntrinsicMethods(irConstructor)) { "Unsupported intrinsic constructor: ${irConstructor.render()}" }
             }
             irClass.defaultType.isUnsignedType() -> {
                 val propertySymbol = irClass.declarations.single { it is IrProperty }.symbol
@@ -178,13 +180,13 @@ internal class DefaultCallInterceptor(override val interpreter: IrInterpreter) :
 
     override fun interceptJavaStaticField(expression: IrGetField) {
         val field = expression.symbol.owner
-        assert(field.origin == IrDeclarationOrigin.IR_EXTERNAL_JAVA_DECLARATION_STUB && field.isStatic)
-        assert(field.initializer?.expression !is IrConst<*>)
+        verify(field.origin == IrDeclarationOrigin.IR_EXTERNAL_JAVA_DECLARATION_STUB && field.isStatic)
+        verify(field.initializer?.expression !is IrConst<*>)
         callStack.pushState(Wrapper.getStaticGetter(field).invokeWithArguments().toState(field.type))
     }
 
     private fun MethodHandle?.invokeMethod(irFunction: IrFunction, args: List<State>) {
-        this ?: return assert(handleIntrinsicMethods(irFunction)) { "Unsupported intrinsic function: ${irFunction.render()}" }
+        this ?: return verify(handleIntrinsicMethods(irFunction)) { "Unsupported intrinsic function: ${irFunction.render()}" }
         val argsForMethodInvocation = irFunction.getArgsForMethodInvocation(this@DefaultCallInterceptor, this.type(), args)
         withExceptionHandler(environment) {
             val result = this.invokeWithArguments(argsForMethodInvocation) // TODO if null return Unit
diff --git a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/InstructionsUnfolder.kt b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/InstructionsUnfolder.kt
index ec6e4351582..d04e4764f6b 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/InstructionsUnfolder.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/InstructionsUnfolder.kt
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.*
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.impl.IrConstImpl
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.impl.IrGetObjectValueImpl
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.InterpreterError
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.handleUserException
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.verify
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.stack.CallStack
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.stack.Variable
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.state.*
@@ -214,8 +216,7 @@ private fun unfoldReturn(expression: IrReturn, callStack: CallStack) {
 }
 
 private fun unfoldSetField(expression: IrSetField, callStack: CallStack) {
-    // receiver is null, for example, for top level fields; cannot interpret set on top level var
-    if (expression.accessesTopLevelOrObjectField()) error("Cannot interpret set method on top level properties")
+    verify(!expression.accessesTopLevelOrObjectField()) { "Cannot interpret set method on top level properties" }
 
     callStack.addInstruction(SimpleInstruction(expression))
     callStack.addInstruction(CompoundInstruction(expression.value))
diff --git a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/IrInterpreter.kt b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/IrInterpreter.kt
index ed6791b5876..3a7a5d302b7 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/IrInterpreter.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/IrInterpreter.kt
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.*
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.impl.IrConstructorCallImpl
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.InterpreterError
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.InterpreterTimeOutError
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.handleUserException
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.verify
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.proxy.CommonProxy.Companion.asProxy
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.proxy.Proxy
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.stack.CallStack
@@ -90,7 +92,6 @@ class IrInterpreter private constructor(
 
             while (!callStack.hasNoInstructions()) {
                 callStack.popInstruction().handle()
-                incrementAndCheckCommands()
             }
 
             callStack.popState().apply { callStack.dropFrame() }
@@ -386,7 +387,7 @@ class IrInterpreter private constructor(
             expression.accessesTopLevelOrObjectField() -> {
                 val propertyOwner = field.correspondingPropertySymbol?.owner
                 val isConst = propertyOwner?.isConst == true || propertyOwner?.backingField?.initializer?.expression is IrConst<*>
-                assert(isConst) { "Cannot interpret get method on top level non const properties" }
+                verify(isConst) { "Cannot interpret get method on top level non const properties" }
                 callStack.addInstruction(CompoundInstruction(field.initializer?.expression))
             }
             else -> {
diff --git a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/Utils.kt b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/Utils.kt
index f2e34fe2b63..48f2a27d179 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/Utils.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/Utils.kt
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.declarations.*
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.*
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.impl.IrConstImpl
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.impl.IrErrorExpressionImpl
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.handleUserException
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.proxy.Proxy
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.proxy.wrap
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.state.*
@@ -222,22 +223,6 @@ internal fun IrClass.internalName(): String {
     return internalName.toString()
 }
 
-internal inline fun withExceptionHandler(environment: IrInterpreterEnvironment, block: () -> Unit) {
-    try {
-        block()
-    } catch (e: Throwable) {
-        e.handleUserException(environment)
-    }
-}
-
-internal fun Throwable.handleUserException(environment: IrInterpreterEnvironment) {
-    val exceptionName = this::class.java.simpleName
-    val irExceptionClass = environment.irExceptions.firstOrNull { it.name.asString() == exceptionName }
-        ?: environment.irBuiltIns.throwableClass.owner
-    environment.callStack.pushState(ExceptionState(this, irExceptionClass, environment.callStack.getStackTrace()))
-    environment.callStack.dropFramesUntilTryCatch()
-}
-
 /**
  * This method is analog of `checkcast` jvm bytecode operation. Throw exception whenever actual type is not a subtype of expected.
  */
diff --git a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/exceptions/ExceptionUtils.kt b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/exceptions/ExceptionUtils.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..74f199e8c41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/exceptions/ExceptionUtils.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2010-2021 JetBrains s.r.o. and Kotlin Programming Language contributors.
+ * Use of this source code is governed by the Apache 2.0 license that can be found in the license/LICENSE.txt file.
+ */
+
+package org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions
+
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.IrInterpreterEnvironment
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.state.ExceptionState
+
+internal fun verify(value: Boolean) {
+    verify(value) { "Assertion failed" }
+}
+
+internal inline fun verify(value: Boolean, lazyMessage: () -> Any) {
+    if (!value) throw InterpreterAssertionError(lazyMessage().toString())
+}
+
+internal inline fun withExceptionHandler(environment: IrInterpreterEnvironment, block: () -> Unit) {
+    try {
+        block()
+    } catch (e: InterpreterException) {
+        throw e
+    } catch (e: Throwable) {
+        e.handleUserException(environment)
+    }
+}
+
+internal fun Throwable.handleUserException(environment: IrInterpreterEnvironment) {
+    val exceptionName = this::class.java.simpleName
+    val irExceptionClass = environment.irExceptions.firstOrNull { it.name.asString() == exceptionName }
+        ?: environment.irBuiltIns.throwableClass.owner
+    environment.callStack.pushState(ExceptionState(this, irExceptionClass, environment.callStack.getStackTrace()))
+    environment.callStack.dropFramesUntilTryCatch()
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/exceptions/InterpreterError.kt b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/exceptions/InterpreterError.kt
index 9ff2c2fbbbb..7037d1d842e 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/exceptions/InterpreterError.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/exceptions/InterpreterError.kt
@@ -11,4 +11,6 @@ class InterpreterMethodNotFoundError(message: String) : InterpreterError(message
 
 class InterpreterTimeOutError : InterpreterError("Exceeded execution limit of constexpr expression")
 
-class InterpreterEmptyReturnStackError : InterpreterError("Return values stack is empty")
\ No newline at end of file
+class InterpreterEmptyReturnStackError : InterpreterError("Return values stack is empty")
+
+class InterpreterAssertionError(message: String) : InterpreterError(message)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/intrinsics/IntrinsicImplementations.kt b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/intrinsics/IntrinsicImplementations.kt
index 45a369caa55..a6aaa79619a 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/intrinsics/IntrinsicImplementations.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/intrinsics/IntrinsicImplementations.kt
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.declarations.*
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.impl.IrCallImpl
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.impl.IrConstImpl
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.*
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.handleUserException
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.state.*
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.state.reflection.KFunctionState
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.state.reflection.KTypeState
diff --git a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/proxy/reflection/KProperty0Proxy.kt b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/proxy/reflection/KProperty0Proxy.kt
index 8886e8df61c..97354e4cb50 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/proxy/reflection/KProperty0Proxy.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/proxy/reflection/KProperty0Proxy.kt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 package org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.proxy.reflection
 
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.CallInterceptor
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.verify
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.getDispatchReceiver
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.getExtensionReceiver
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.stack.Variable
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ internal class KMutableProperty0Proxy(
             override fun call(vararg args: Any?) {
                 checkArguments(1, args.size)
                 // null receiver <=> property is on top level
-                assert(state.receiver != null) { "Cannot interpret set method on top level non const properties" }
+                verify(state.receiver != null) { "Cannot interpret set method on top level properties" }
                 val receiver = state.receiver!!
                 val newValue = args.single().toState(propertyType)
                 setter.getExtensionReceiver()
diff --git a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/state/State.kt b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/state/State.kt
index f0315d50b43..0190a6542e4 100644
--- a/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/state/State.kt
+++ b/compiler/ir/ir.interpreter/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/ir/interpreter/state/State.kt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.declarations.IrClass
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.declarations.IrFunction
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.expressions.IrCall
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.IrInterpreterEnvironment
-import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.handleUserException
+import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.interpreter.exceptions.handleUserException
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.symbols.IrSymbol
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.types.*
 import org.jetbrains.kotlin.ir.util.defaultType