diff --git a/src/testdir/test_assert.vim b/src/testdir/test_assert.vim
index 89ac012..42dd6a9 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_assert.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_assert.vim
@@ -338,6 +338,12 @@
   endtry
 endfunc
 
+func Test_assert_fails_in_timer()
+  " should not cause a hit-enter prompt, which isn't actually checked here
+  call timer_start(0, {-> assert_fails('call', 'E471:')})
+  sleep 10m
+endfunc
+
 func Test_assert_beeps()
   new
   call assert_equal(0, assert_beeps('normal h'))
diff --git a/src/testing.c b/src/testing.c
index 7bb14e1..d76d098 100644
--- a/src/testing.c
+++ b/src/testing.c
@@ -592,7 +592,6 @@
     void
 f_assert_fails(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv)
 {
-    char_u	*cmd;
     garray_T	ga;
     int		save_trylevel = trylevel;
     int		called_emsg_before = called_emsg;
@@ -608,13 +607,13 @@
 			    && check_for_opt_string_arg(argvars, 4) == FAIL)))))
 	return;
 
-    cmd = tv_get_string_chk(&argvars[0]);
-
     // trylevel must be zero for a ":throw" command to be considered failed
     trylevel = 0;
     suppress_errthrow = TRUE;
     in_assert_fails = TRUE;
+    ++no_wait_return;
 
+    char_u *cmd = tv_get_string_chk(&argvars[0]);
     do_cmdline_cmd(cmd);
 
     // reset here for any errors reported below
@@ -758,6 +757,7 @@
     did_emsg = FALSE;
     got_int = FALSE;
     msg_col = 0;
+    --no_wait_return;
     need_wait_return = FALSE;
     emsg_on_display = FALSE;
     msg_scrolled = 0;
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 097fcf6..f305f3c 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -696,6 +696,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    846,
+/**/
     845,
 /**/
     844,