diff --git a/compiler/passes/initializerRules.cpp b/compiler/passes/initializerRules.cpp
index f470ab55e8ba..abcca78e2071 100644
--- a/compiler/passes/initializerRules.cpp
+++ b/compiler/passes/initializerRules.cpp
@@ -513,7 +513,10 @@ static InitNormalize preNormalize(AggregateType* at,
         } else if (isSuperInit(callExpr) == true) {
           Expr* next = callExpr->next;
 
-          INT_ASSERT(state.isPhase0() == true);
+          if (state.isPhase0() != true) {
+            USR_FATAL(callExpr,
+                       "duplicate use of 'super.init()' in initializer, this should only be called once");
+          }
           state.completePhase0(callExpr);
 
           if (at->isRecord() == true) {
diff --git a/test/classes/initializers/inheritance/duplicate-super-init.chpl b/test/classes/initializers/inheritance/duplicate-super-init.chpl
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..68b9ab0d2175
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/classes/initializers/inheritance/duplicate-super-init.chpl
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+class P { }
+class C: P {
+  proc init() {
+    super.init();
+    super.init();
+  }
+}
+
+proc main() {
+  var c = new C();
+}
diff --git a/test/classes/initializers/inheritance/duplicate-super-init.good b/test/classes/initializers/inheritance/duplicate-super-init.good
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2ee8aec2b7fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/classes/initializers/inheritance/duplicate-super-init.good
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+duplicate-super-init.chpl:3: In initializer:
+duplicate-super-init.chpl:5: error: duplicate use of 'super.init()' in initializer, this should only be called once