diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 28913600d2..ffb0cb87dc 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -750,6 +750,13 @@ if enable_nm_cloud_setup
 endif
 
 more_asserts = get_option('more_asserts')
+if more_asserts == 'auto'
+  if nm_minor_version % 2 == 0
+    more_asserts = 'no'
+  else
+    more_asserts = 'all'
+  endif
+endif
 if more_asserts == 'no'
   more_asserts = 0
 elif more_asserts == 'all'
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 8d243974d3..d4f62829fa 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ option('vapi', type : 'combo', choices : ['auto', 'true', 'false'], description:
 option('docs', type: 'boolean', value: false, description: 'use to build documentation')
 option('tests', type: 'combo', choices: ['yes', 'no', 'root'], value: 'yes', description: 'Build NetworkManager tests')
 option('firewalld_zone', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'Install and use firewalld zone for shared mode')
-option('more_asserts', type: 'string', value: 'all', description: 'Enable more assertions for debugging (0 = no, 100 = all, default: all)')
+option('more_asserts', type: 'string', value: 'auto', description: 'Enable more assertions for debugging (0 = no, 100 = all, default: auto)')
 option('more_logging', type: 'boolean', value: true, description: 'Enable more debug logging')
 option('valgrind', type: 'array', value: ['no'], description: 'Use valgrind to memory-check the tests')
 option('valgrind_suppressions', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'Use specific valgrind suppression file')