diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 639b970c3..bd1457d6c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ The changelog for `IGListKit`. Also see the [releases](https://github.com/instag
 
 ### Fixes
 
+- Assertions are no longer compiled into release builds when integrating via Swift Package Manager. `NS_BLOCK_ASSERTIONS` is now defined for the `IGListDiffKit` and `IGListKit` targets in the release configuration, matching the behaviour of the Xcode project and CocoaPods. [Desmond Zhong](https://github.com/DesmondLime)
+
 - Fixed public compilation failure on macOS (SPM, CocoaPods) by conditionally importing METAUIKitBridge only when available. [Cameron Roth](https://github.com/camroth)
 
 - An infinite recursion crash when VoiceOver is enabled and `scrollViewDelegate` or `collectionViewDelegate` is set to the adapter's own `UICollectionView`. [Cameron Roth](https://github.com/camroth) [(#1658)](https://github.com/Instagram/IGListKit/issues/1658)
diff --git a/Package.swift b/Package.swift
index edd8f7867..56ea3857e 100644
--- a/Package.swift
+++ b/Package.swift
@@ -19,13 +19,15 @@ let package = Package(
         .target(
             name: "IGListDiffKit",
             path: "spm/Sources/IGListDiffKit",
-            publicHeadersPath: "include"
+            publicHeadersPath: "include",
+            cSettings: [.define("NS_BLOCK_ASSERTIONS", .when(configuration: .release))]
         ),
         .target(
             name: "IGListKit",
             dependencies: ["IGListDiffKit"],
             path: "spm/Sources/IGListKit",
-            publicHeadersPath: "include"
+            publicHeadersPath: "include",
+            cSettings: [.define("NS_BLOCK_ASSERTIONS", .when(configuration: .release))]
         ),
         .target(
             name: "IGListSwiftKit",