diff --git a/src/libcore/char.rs b/src/libcore/char.rs
index 7922103029b..f2db9ca919d 100644
--- a/src/libcore/char.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/char.rs
@@ -288,16 +288,16 @@ fn test_is_whitespace() {
 
 #[test]
 fn test_to_digit() {
-    fail_unless!(to_digit('0', 10u) == Some(0u));
-    fail_unless!(to_digit('1', 2u) == Some(1u));
-    fail_unless!(to_digit('2', 3u) == Some(2u));
-    fail_unless!(to_digit('9', 10u) == Some(9u));
-    fail_unless!(to_digit('a', 16u) == Some(10u));
-    fail_unless!(to_digit('A', 16u) == Some(10u));
-    fail_unless!(to_digit('b', 16u) == Some(11u));
-    fail_unless!(to_digit('B', 16u) == Some(11u));
-    fail_unless!(to_digit('z', 36u) == Some(35u));
-    fail_unless!(to_digit('Z', 36u) == Some(35u));
+    assert_eq!(to_digit('0', 10u), Some(0u));
+    assert_eq!(to_digit('1', 2u), Some(1u));
+    assert_eq!(to_digit('2', 3u), Some(2u));
+    assert_eq!(to_digit('9', 10u), Some(9u));
+    assert_eq!(to_digit('a', 16u), Some(10u));
+    assert_eq!(to_digit('A', 16u), Some(10u));
+    assert_eq!(to_digit('b', 16u), Some(11u));
+    assert_eq!(to_digit('B', 16u), Some(11u));
+    assert_eq!(to_digit('z', 36u), Some(35u));
+    assert_eq!(to_digit('Z', 36u), Some(35u));
 
     fail_unless!(to_digit(' ', 10u).is_none());
     fail_unless!(to_digit('$', 36u).is_none());
@@ -321,28 +321,28 @@ fn test_is_digit() {
 
 #[test]
 fn test_escape_default() {
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('\n') == ~"\\n");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('\r') == ~"\\r");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('\'') == ~"\\'");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('"') == ~"\\\"");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default(' ') == ~" ");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('a') == ~"a");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('~') == ~"~");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('\x00') == ~"\\x00");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('\x1f') == ~"\\x1f");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('\x7f') == ~"\\x7f");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('\xff') == ~"\\xff");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('\u011b') == ~"\\u011b");
-    fail_unless!(escape_default('\U0001d4b6') == ~"\\U0001d4b6");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('\n'), ~"\\n");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('\r'), ~"\\r");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('\''), ~"\\'");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('"'), ~"\\\"");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default(' '), ~" ");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('a'), ~"a");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('~'), ~"~");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('\x00'), ~"\\x00");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('\x1f'), ~"\\x1f");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('\x7f'), ~"\\x7f");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('\xff'), ~"\\xff");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('\u011b'), ~"\\u011b");
+    assert_eq!(escape_default('\U0001d4b6'), ~"\\U0001d4b6");
 }
 
 
 #[test]
 fn test_escape_unicode() {
-    fail_unless!(escape_unicode('\x00') == ~"\\x00");
-    fail_unless!(escape_unicode('\n') == ~"\\x0a");
-    fail_unless!(escape_unicode(' ') == ~"\\x20");
-    fail_unless!(escape_unicode('a') == ~"\\x61");
-    fail_unless!(escape_unicode('\u011b') == ~"\\u011b");
-    fail_unless!(escape_unicode('\U0001d4b6') == ~"\\U0001d4b6");
+    assert_eq!(escape_unicode('\x00'), ~"\\x00");
+    assert_eq!(escape_unicode('\n'), ~"\\x0a");
+    assert_eq!(escape_unicode(' '), ~"\\x20");
+    assert_eq!(escape_unicode('a'), ~"\\x61");
+    assert_eq!(escape_unicode('\u011b'), ~"\\u011b");
+    assert_eq!(escape_unicode('\U0001d4b6'), ~"\\U0001d4b6");
 }
diff --git a/src/libcore/cmp.rs b/src/libcore/cmp.rs
index 81f6a7e4266..25778f08757 100644
--- a/src/libcore/cmp.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/cmp.rs
@@ -172,10 +172,10 @@ pub pure fn max<T:Ord>(v1: T, v2: T) -> T {
 mod test {
     #[test]
     fn test_int() {
-        fail_unless!(5.cmp(&10) == Less);
-        fail_unless!(10.cmp(&5) == Greater);
-        fail_unless!(5.cmp(&5) == Equal);
-        fail_unless!((-5).cmp(&12) == Less);
-        fail_unless!(12.cmp(-5) == Greater);
+        assert_eq!(5.cmp(&10), Less);
+        assert_eq!(10.cmp(&5), Greater);
+        assert_eq!(5.cmp(&5), Equal);
+        assert_eq!((-5).cmp(&12), Less);
+        assert_eq!(12.cmp(-5), Greater);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/libcore/dlist.rs b/src/libcore/dlist.rs
index 1b5d03d9eb8..5a230da877f 100644
--- a/src/libcore/dlist.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/dlist.rs
@@ -555,15 +555,15 @@ mod tests {
         let ab = from_vec(~[a,b]);
         let cd = from_vec(~[c,d]);
         let abcd = concat(concat(from_vec(~[ab,cd])));
-        abcd.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(abcd.len() == 8);
-        abcd.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(abcd.pop().get() == 1);
-        abcd.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(abcd.pop().get() == 2);
-        abcd.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(abcd.pop().get() == 3);
-        abcd.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(abcd.pop().get() == 4);
-        abcd.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(abcd.pop().get() == 5);
-        abcd.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(abcd.pop().get() == 6);
-        abcd.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(abcd.pop().get() == 7);
-        abcd.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(abcd.pop().get() == 8);
+        abcd.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(abcd.len(), 8);
+        abcd.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(abcd.pop().get(), 1);
+        abcd.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(abcd.pop().get(), 2);
+        abcd.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(abcd.pop().get(), 3);
+        abcd.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(abcd.pop().get(), 4);
+        abcd.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(abcd.pop().get(), 5);
+        abcd.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(abcd.pop().get(), 6);
+        abcd.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(abcd.pop().get(), 7);
+        abcd.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(abcd.pop().get(), 8);
         abcd.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(abcd.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -571,15 +571,15 @@ mod tests {
         let a = from_vec(~[1,2,3]);
         let b = from_vec(~[4,5,6]);
         a.append(b);
-        fail_unless!(a.len() == 6);
-        fail_unless!(b.len() == 0);
+        assert_eq!(a.len(), 6);
+        assert_eq!(b.len(), 0);
         b.assert_consistent();
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 1);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 2);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 3);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 4);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 5);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 6);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 1);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 2);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 3);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 4);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 5);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 6);
         a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -587,12 +587,12 @@ mod tests {
         let a = from_vec(~[1,2,3]);
         let b = DList::<int>();
         a.append(b);
-        fail_unless!(a.len() == 3);
-        fail_unless!(b.len() == 0);
+        assert_eq!(a.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(b.len(), 0);
         b.assert_consistent();
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 1);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 2);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 3);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 1);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 2);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 3);
         a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -600,12 +600,12 @@ mod tests {
         let a = DList::<int>();
         let b = from_vec(~[4,5,6]);
         a.append(b);
-        fail_unless!(a.len() == 3);
-        fail_unless!(b.len() == 0);
+        assert_eq!(a.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(b.len(), 0);
         b.assert_consistent();
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 4);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 5);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 6);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 4);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 5);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 6);
         a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -613,8 +613,8 @@ mod tests {
         let a = DList::<int>();
         let b = DList::<int>();
         a.append(b);
-        fail_unless!(a.len() == 0);
-        fail_unless!(b.len() == 0);
+        assert_eq!(a.len(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(b.len(), 0);
         b.assert_consistent();
         a.assert_consistent();
     }
@@ -637,34 +637,34 @@ mod tests {
         let a = from_vec(~[1,2,3]);
         let b = from_vec(~[4,5,6]);
         b.prepend(a);
-        fail_unless!(a.len() == 0);
-        fail_unless!(b.len() == 6);
+        assert_eq!(a.len(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(b.len(), 6);
         a.assert_consistent();
-        b.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(b.pop().get() == 1);
-        b.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(b.pop().get() == 2);
-        b.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(b.pop().get() == 3);
-        b.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(b.pop().get() == 4);
-        b.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(b.pop().get() == 5);
-        b.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(b.pop().get() == 6);
+        b.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(b.pop().get(), 1);
+        b.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(b.pop().get(), 2);
+        b.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(b.pop().get(), 3);
+        b.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(b.pop().get(), 4);
+        b.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(b.pop().get(), 5);
+        b.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(b.pop().get(), 6);
         b.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(b.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
     pub fn test_dlist_reverse() {
         let a = from_vec(~[5,4,3,2,1]);
         a.reverse();
-        fail_unless!(a.len() == 5);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 1);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 2);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 3);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 4);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 5);
+        assert_eq!(a.len(), 5);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 1);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 2);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 3);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 4);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 5);
         a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
     pub fn test_dlist_reverse_empty() {
         let a = DList::<int>();
         a.reverse();
-        fail_unless!(a.len() == 0);
+        assert_eq!(a.len(), 0);
         a.assert_consistent();
     }
     #[test]
@@ -675,20 +675,20 @@ mod tests {
                 a.insert_before(3, nobe);
             }
         }
-        fail_unless!(a.len() == 6);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 1);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 2);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 3);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 4);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 3);
-        a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.pop().get() == 5);
+        assert_eq!(a.len(), 6);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 1);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 2);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 3);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 4);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 3);
+        a.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(a.pop().get(), 5);
         a.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(a.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
     pub fn test_dlist_clear() {
         let a = from_vec(~[5,4,3,2,1]);
         a.clear();
-        fail_unless!(a.len() == 0);
+        assert_eq!(a.len(), 0);
         a.assert_consistent();
     }
     #[test]
@@ -701,33 +701,33 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     pub fn test_dlist_head_tail() {
         let l = from_vec(~[1,2,3]);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
-        fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
     }
     #[test]
     pub fn test_dlist_pop() {
         let l = from_vec(~[1,2,3]);
-        fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 1);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 2);
-        fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 2);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 3);
-        fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 3);
         fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
         fail_unless!(l.pop().is_none());
     }
     #[test]
     pub fn test_dlist_pop_tail() {
         let l = from_vec(~[1,2,3]);
-        fail_unless!(l.pop_tail().get() == 3);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 2);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        fail_unless!(l.pop_tail().get() == 2);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 1);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        fail_unless!(l.pop_tail().get() == 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.pop_tail().get(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.pop_tail().get(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.pop_tail().get(), 1);
         fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
         fail_unless!(l.pop_tail().is_none());
     }
@@ -735,34 +735,34 @@ mod tests {
     pub fn test_dlist_push() {
         let l = DList::<int>();
         l.push(1);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 1);
         l.push(2);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 2);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 2);
         l.push(3);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
-        fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
     }
     #[test]
     pub fn test_dlist_push_head() {
         let l = DList::<int>();
         l.push_head(3);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 3);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
         l.push_head(2);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 2);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
         l.push_head(1);
-        fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
-        fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
     }
     #[test]
     pub fn test_dlist_foldl() {
         let l = from_vec(vec::from_fn(101, |x|x));
-        fail_unless!(iter::foldl(&l, 0, |accum,elem| *accum+*elem) == 5050);
+        assert_eq!(iter::foldl(&l, 0, |accum,elem| *accum+*elem), 5050);
     }
     #[test]
     pub fn test_dlist_break_early() {
@@ -772,7 +772,7 @@ mod tests {
             x += 1;
             if (*i == 3) { break; }
         }
-        fail_unless!(x == 3);
+        assert_eq!(x, 3);
     }
     #[test]
     pub fn test_dlist_remove_head() {
@@ -780,13 +780,13 @@ mod tests {
         l.assert_consistent(); let one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let _two = l.push_n(2);
         l.assert_consistent(); let _three = l.push_n(3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(one);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.head() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.head(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -795,13 +795,13 @@ mod tests {
         l.assert_consistent(); let _one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let two = l.push_n(2);
         l.assert_consistent(); let _three = l.push_n(3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(two);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -810,13 +810,13 @@ mod tests {
         l.assert_consistent(); let _one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let _two = l.push_n(2);
         l.assert_consistent(); let three = l.push_n(3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(three);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.tail() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.tail(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 2);
         l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -825,14 +825,14 @@ mod tests {
         l.assert_consistent(); let one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let two = l.push_n(2);
         l.assert_consistent(); let _three = l.push_n(3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(one);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(two);
         // and through and through, the vorpal blade went snicker-snack
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.head() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.head(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -841,13 +841,13 @@ mod tests {
         l.assert_consistent(); let one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let _two = l.push_n(2);
         l.assert_consistent(); let three = l.push_n(3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(one);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(three);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.head() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.tail() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.head(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.tail(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 2);
         l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -856,13 +856,13 @@ mod tests {
         l.assert_consistent(); let _one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let two = l.push_n(2);
         l.assert_consistent(); let three = l.push_n(3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(two);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(three);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.tail() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.tail(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 1);
         l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ mod tests {
         l.assert_consistent(); let one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let two = l.push_n(2);
         l.assert_consistent(); let three = l.push_n(3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(two);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(three);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.remove(one); // Twenty-three is number one!
@@ -884,14 +884,14 @@ mod tests {
         l.assert_consistent(); let _one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let two = l.push_n(2);
         l.assert_consistent(); let three = new_dlist_node(3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 2);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.insert_n_before(three, two);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.tail() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.tail(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 2);
         l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -900,14 +900,14 @@ mod tests {
         l.assert_consistent(); let one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let _two = l.push_n(2);
         l.assert_consistent(); let three = new_dlist_node(3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 2);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.insert_n_after(three, one);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.tail() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.tail(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 2);
         l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -915,14 +915,14 @@ mod tests {
         let l = DList::<int>();
         l.assert_consistent(); let one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let _two = l.push_n(2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 2);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.insert_before(3, one);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.head() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.tail() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.head(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.tail(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 2);
         l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
     }
     #[test]
@@ -930,14 +930,14 @@ mod tests {
         let l = DList::<int>();
         l.assert_consistent(); let _one = l.push_n(1);
         l.assert_consistent(); let two = l.push_n(2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 2);
         l.assert_consistent(); l.insert_after(3, two);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.len() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.head() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.tail() == 3);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 1);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 2);
-        l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.pop().get() == 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.len(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.head(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.tail(), 3);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 1);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 2);
+        l.assert_consistent(); assert_eq!(l.pop().get(), 3);
         l.assert_consistent(); fail_unless!(l.is_empty());
     }
     #[test] #[should_fail] #[ignore(cfg(windows))]
diff --git a/src/libcore/either.rs b/src/libcore/either.rs
index e4b7bbbd99e..2410ef39332 100644
--- a/src/libcore/either.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/either.rs
@@ -191,77 +191,77 @@ fn test_either_right() {
 fn test_lefts() {
     let input = ~[Left(10), Right(11), Left(12), Right(13), Left(14)];
     let result = lefts(input);
-    fail_unless!((result == ~[10, 12, 14]));
+    assert_eq!(result, ~[10, 12, 14]);
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn test_lefts_none() {
     let input: ~[Either<int, int>] = ~[Right(10), Right(10)];
     let result = lefts(input);
-    fail_unless!((vec::len(result) == 0u));
+    assert_eq!(vec::len(result), 0u);
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn test_lefts_empty() {
     let input: ~[Either<int, int>] = ~[];
     let result = lefts(input);
-    fail_unless!((vec::len(result) == 0u));
+    assert_eq!(vec::len(result), 0u);
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn test_rights() {
     let input = ~[Left(10), Right(11), Left(12), Right(13), Left(14)];
     let result = rights(input);
-    fail_unless!((result == ~[11, 13]));
+    assert_eq!(result, ~[11, 13]);
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn test_rights_none() {
     let input: ~[Either<int, int>] = ~[Left(10), Left(10)];
     let result = rights(input);
-    fail_unless!((vec::len(result) == 0u));
+    assert_eq!(vec::len(result), 0u);
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn test_rights_empty() {
     let input: ~[Either<int, int>] = ~[];
     let result = rights(input);
-    fail_unless!((vec::len(result) == 0u));
+    assert_eq!(vec::len(result), 0u);
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn test_partition() {
     let input = ~[Left(10), Right(11), Left(12), Right(13), Left(14)];
     let (lefts, rights) = partition(input);
-    fail_unless!((lefts[0] == 10));
-    fail_unless!((lefts[1] == 12));
-    fail_unless!((lefts[2] == 14));
-    fail_unless!((rights[0] == 11));
-    fail_unless!((rights[1] == 13));
+    assert_eq!(lefts[0], 10);
+    assert_eq!(lefts[1], 12);
+    assert_eq!(lefts[2], 14);
+    assert_eq!(rights[0], 11);
+    assert_eq!(rights[1], 13);
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn test_partition_no_lefts() {
     let input: ~[Either<int, int>] = ~[Right(10), Right(11)];
     let (lefts, rights) = partition(input);
-    fail_unless!((vec::len(lefts) == 0u));
-    fail_unless!((vec::len(rights) == 2u));
+    assert_eq!(vec::len(lefts), 0u);
+    assert_eq!(vec::len(rights), 2u);
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn test_partition_no_rights() {
     let input: ~[Either<int, int>] = ~[Left(10), Left(11)];
     let (lefts, rights) = partition(input);
-    fail_unless!((vec::len(lefts) == 2u));
-    fail_unless!((vec::len(rights) == 0u));
+    assert_eq!(vec::len(lefts), 2u);
+    assert_eq!(vec::len(rights), 0u);
 }
 
 #[test]
 fn test_partition_empty() {
     let input: ~[Either<int, int>] = ~[];
     let (lefts, rights) = partition(input);
-    fail_unless!((vec::len(lefts) == 0u));
-    fail_unless!((vec::len(rights) == 0u));
+    assert_eq!(vec::len(lefts), 0u);
+    assert_eq!(vec::len(rights), 0u);
 }
 
 //
diff --git a/src/libstd/json.rs b/src/libstd/json.rs
index 7503f28e848..00b6501ffce 100644
--- a/src/libstd/json.rs
+++ b/src/libstd/json.rs
@@ -1278,20 +1278,6 @@ mod tests {
         fail_unless!(a == b);
     }
 
-    // two fns copied from libsyntax/util/testing.rs.
-    // Should they be in their own crate?
-    pub pure fn check_equal_ptr<T:cmp::Eq> (given : &T, expected: &T) {
-        if !((given == expected) && (expected == given )) {
-            fail!(fmt!("given %?, expected %?",given,expected));
-        }
-    }
-
-    pub pure fn check_equal<T:cmp::Eq> (given : T, expected: T) {
-        if !((given == expected) && (expected == given )) {
-            fail!(fmt!("given %?, expected %?",given,expected));
-        }
-    }
-
     #[test]
     fn test_write_enum () {
         let bw = @io::BytesWriter();
@@ -1309,7 +1295,7 @@ mod tests {
                 }
             }
         }
-        check_equal(str::from_bytes(bw.bytes), ~"[\"frog\",[\"Henry\",349]]");
+        assert_eq!(str::from_bytes(bw.bytes), ~"[\"frog\",[\"Henry\",349]]");
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -1324,7 +1310,7 @@ mod tests {
                 }
             }
         }
-        check_equal(str::from_bytes(bw.bytes), ~"\"jodhpurs\"");
+        assert_eq!(str::from_bytes(bw.bytes), ~"\"jodhpurs\"");
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -1336,7 +1322,7 @@ mod tests {
             do encoder.emit_enum_variant (~"None",37,1242) {
             }
         }
-        check_equal(str::from_bytes(bw.bytes), ~"null");
+        assert_eq!(str::from_bytes(bw.bytes), ~"null");
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/codemap.rs b/src/libsyntax/codemap.rs
index 727d386f277..c2309dbf0e8 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/codemap.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/codemap.rs
@@ -208,7 +208,8 @@ pub enum ExpnInfo {
 
 pub type FileName = ~str;
 
-pub struct FileLines {
+pub struct FileLines
+{
     file: @FileMap,
     lines: ~[uint]
 }
@@ -509,17 +510,16 @@ priv impl CodeMap {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
-    use util::testing::check_equal;
 
     #[test]
     fn t1 () {
         let cm = CodeMap::new();
         let fm = cm.new_filemap(~"blork.rs",@~"first line.\nsecond line");
         fm.next_line(BytePos(0));
-        check_equal(&fm.get_line(0),&~"first line.");
+        assert_eq!(&fm.get_line(0),&~"first line.");
         // TESTING BROKEN BEHAVIOR:
         fm.next_line(BytePos(10));
-        check_equal(&fm.get_line(1),&~".");
+        assert_eq!(&fm.get_line(1),&~".");
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ext/auto_encode.rs b/src/libsyntax/ext/auto_encode.rs
index 294174dc8f9..3ab95258f03 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ext/auto_encode.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ext/auto_encode.rs
@@ -1202,7 +1202,6 @@ fn mk_enum_deser_body(
 mod test {
     use std::serialize::Encodable;
     use std::serialize::Encoder;
-    use util::testing::*;
 
     // just adding the ones I want to test, for now:
     #[deriving_eq]
@@ -1321,7 +1320,7 @@ mod test {
     }
 
     #[test] fn encode_enum_test () {
-        check_equal (to_call_log(Book(34,44)),
+        assert_eq!(to_call_log(Book(34,44)),
                      ~[CallToEmitEnum (~"Written"),
                        CallToEmitEnumVariant (~"Book",0,2),
                        CallToEmitEnumVariantArg (0),
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ext/base.rs b/src/libsyntax/ext/base.rs
index 447ca71dc6b..34e4d8c73e7 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ext/base.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ext/base.rs
@@ -509,7 +509,6 @@ impl <K: Eq + Hash + IterBytes ,V: Copy> MapChain<K,V>{
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::MapChain;
-    use util::testing::check_equal;
     use core::hashmap::linear::LinearMap;
 
     #[test] fn testenv () {
@@ -517,23 +516,23 @@ mod test {
         a.insert (@~"abc",@15);
         let m = MapChain::new(~a);
         m.insert (@~"def",@16);
-        // FIXME: #4492 (ICE)  check_equal(m.find(&@~"abc"),Some(@15));
-        //  ....               check_equal(m.find(&@~"def"),Some(@16));
-        check_equal(*(m.find(&@~"abc").get()),15);
-        check_equal(*(m.find(&@~"def").get()),16);
+        // FIXME: #4492 (ICE)  assert_eq!(m.find(&@~"abc"),Some(@15));
+        //  ....               assert_eq!(m.find(&@~"def"),Some(@16));
+        assert_eq!(*(m.find(&@~"abc").get()),15);
+        assert_eq!(*(m.find(&@~"def").get()),16);
         let n = m.push_frame();
         // old bindings are still present:
-        check_equal(*(n.find(&@~"abc").get()),15);
-        check_equal(*(n.find(&@~"def").get()),16);
+        assert_eq!(*(n.find(&@~"abc").get()),15);
+        assert_eq!(*(n.find(&@~"def").get()),16);
         n.insert (@~"def",@17);
         // n shows the new binding
-        check_equal(*(n.find(&@~"abc").get()),15);
-        check_equal(*(n.find(&@~"def").get()),17);
+        assert_eq!(*(n.find(&@~"abc").get()),15);
+        assert_eq!(*(n.find(&@~"def").get()),17);
         // ... but m still has the old ones
-        // FIXME: #4492: check_equal(m.find(&@~"abc"),Some(@15));
-        // FIXME: #4492: check_equal(m.find(&@~"def"),Some(@16));
-        check_equal(*(m.find(&@~"abc").get()),15);
-        check_equal(*(m.find(&@~"def").get()),16);
+        // FIXME: #4492: assert_eq!(m.find(&@~"abc"),Some(@15));
+        // FIXME: #4492: assert_eq!(m.find(&@~"def"),Some(@16));
+        assert_eq!(*(m.find(&@~"abc").get()),15);
+        assert_eq!(*(m.find(&@~"def").get()),16);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/ext/expand.rs b/src/libsyntax/ext/expand.rs
index ad05e2f21e6..27b35b37849 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/ext/expand.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/ext/expand.rs
@@ -464,6 +464,15 @@ pub fn core_macros() -> ~str {
         }
     )
 
+    macro_rules! assert_eq (
+        ($given:expr , $expected:expr) =>
+        ({let given_val = $given;
+          let expected_val = $expected;
+          // check both directions of equality....
+          if !((given_val == expected_val) && (expected_val == given_val)) {
+            fail!(fmt!(\"expected: %?, given: %?\",expected_val,given_val));
+        }}))
+
     macro_rules! condition (
 
         { $c:ident: $in:ty -> $out:ty; } => {
@@ -481,6 +490,7 @@ pub fn core_macros() -> ~str {
         }
     )
 
+
 }";
 }
 
@@ -547,7 +557,6 @@ mod test {
     use codemap;
     use codemap::spanned;
     use parse;
-    use util::testing::check_equal;
     use core::option::{None, Some};
 
     // make sure that fail! is present
@@ -634,9 +643,9 @@ mod test {
         let attr2 = make_dummy_attr (@~"bar");
         let escape_attr = make_dummy_attr (@~"macro_escape");
         let attrs1 = ~[attr1, escape_attr, attr2];
-        check_equal (contains_macro_escape (attrs1),true);
+        assert_eq!(contains_macro_escape (attrs1),true);
         let attrs2 = ~[attr1,attr2];
-        check_equal (contains_macro_escape (attrs2),false);
+        assert_eq!(contains_macro_escape (attrs2),false);
     }
 
     // make a "meta_word" outer attribute with the given name
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/parse/lexer.rs b/src/libsyntax/parse/lexer.rs
index 6cb4065935c..b92b7282274 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/parse/lexer.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/parse/lexer.rs
@@ -779,7 +779,6 @@ pub mod test {
     use core::option::None;
     use diagnostic;
     use parse::token;
-    use util::testing::{check_equal, check_equal_ptr};
 
     // represents a testing reader (incl. both reader and interner)
     struct Env {
@@ -809,17 +808,17 @@ pub mod test {
         let tok2 = TokenAndSpan{
             tok:token::IDENT(id, false),
             sp:span {lo:BytePos(21),hi:BytePos(23),expn_info: None}};
-        check_equal (tok1,tok2);
+        assert_eq!(tok1,tok2);
         // the 'main' id is already read:
-        check_equal (copy string_reader.last_pos,BytePos(28));
+        assert_eq!(copy string_reader.last_pos,BytePos(28));
         // read another token:
         let tok3 = string_reader.next_token();
         let tok4 = TokenAndSpan{
             tok:token::IDENT(ident_interner.intern (@~"main"), false),
             sp:span {lo:BytePos(24),hi:BytePos(28),expn_info: None}};
-        check_equal (tok3,tok4);
+        assert_eq!(tok3,tok4);
         // the lparen is already read:
-        check_equal (copy string_reader.last_pos,BytePos(29))
+        assert_eq!(copy string_reader.last_pos,BytePos(29))
     }
 
     // check that the given reader produces the desired stream
@@ -828,7 +827,7 @@ pub mod test {
         for expected.each |expected_tok| {
             let TokenAndSpan {tok:actual_tok, sp: _} =
                 env.string_reader.next_token();
-            check_equal(&actual_tok,expected_tok);
+            assert_eq!(&actual_tok,expected_tok);
         }
     }
 
@@ -872,21 +871,21 @@ pub mod test {
         let env = setup(~"'a'");
         let TokenAndSpan {tok, sp: _} =
             env.string_reader.next_token();
-        fail_unless!(tok == token::LIT_INT('a' as i64, ast::ty_char));
+        assert_eq!(tok,token::LIT_INT('a' as i64, ast::ty_char));
     }
 
     #[test] fn character_space() {
         let env = setup(~"' '");
         let TokenAndSpan {tok, sp: _} =
             env.string_reader.next_token();
-        fail_unless!(tok == token::LIT_INT(' ' as i64, ast::ty_char));
+        assert_eq!(tok, token::LIT_INT(' ' as i64, ast::ty_char));
     }
 
     #[test] fn character_escaped() {
         let env = setup(~"'\n'");
         let TokenAndSpan {tok, sp: _} =
             env.string_reader.next_token();
-        fail_unless!(tok == token::LIT_INT('\n' as i64, ast::ty_char));
+        assert_eq!(tok, token::LIT_INT('\n' as i64, ast::ty_char));
     }
 
     #[test] fn lifetime_name() {
@@ -894,7 +893,7 @@ pub mod test {
         let TokenAndSpan {tok, sp: _} =
             env.string_reader.next_token();
         let id = env.interner.intern(@~"abc");
-        fail_unless!(tok == token::LIFETIME(id));
+        assert_eq!(tok, token::LIFETIME(id));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/parse/mod.rs b/src/libsyntax/parse/mod.rs
index a133befb046..a0c73668a05 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/parse/mod.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/parse/mod.rs
@@ -313,7 +313,6 @@ mod test {
     use std;
     use core::io;
     use core::option::None;
-    use util::testing::*;
 
     #[test] fn to_json_str<E : Encodable<std::json::Encoder>>(val: @E) -> ~str {
         do io::with_str_writer |writer| {
@@ -327,7 +326,7 @@ mod test {
             @~"fn foo (x : int) { x; }",
             ~[],
             new_parse_sess(None));
-        check_equal(to_json_str(@tts),
+        assert_eq!(to_json_str(@tts),
                     ~"[[\"tt_tok\",[null,[\"IDENT\",[\"fn\",false]]]],\
                       [\"tt_tok\",[null,[\"IDENT\",[\"foo\",false]]]],\
                       [\"tt_delim\",[[[\"tt_tok\",[null,[\"LPAREN\",[]]]],\
@@ -347,7 +346,7 @@ mod test {
             @~"fn foo (x : int) { x; }",
             ~[],~[],
             new_parse_sess(None));
-        check_equal(ast1,ast2);
+        assert_eq!(ast1,ast2);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/print/pp.rs b/src/libsyntax/print/pp.rs
index 492ecdb3f4d..ed108df7db2 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/print/pp.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/print/pp.rs
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ pub fn tok_str(++t: token) -> ~str {
 pub fn buf_str(toks: ~[token], szs: ~[int], left: uint, right: uint,
                lim: uint) -> ~str {
     let n = vec::len(toks);
-    fail_unless!((n == vec::len(szs)));
+    fail_unless!(n == vec::len(szs));
     let mut i = left;
     let mut L = lim;
     let mut s = ~"[";
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/print/pprust.rs b/src/libsyntax/print/pprust.rs
index 72b734ed73d..2bb053cc03a 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/print/pprust.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/print/pprust.rs
@@ -2254,7 +2254,6 @@ pub mod test {
     use core::cmp::Eq;
     use core::option::None;
     use parse;
-    use util::testing::check_equal;
 
     fn string_check<T:Eq> (given : &T, expected: &T) {
         if !(given == expected) {
@@ -2275,7 +2274,7 @@ pub mod test {
             cf: ast::return_val
         };
         let generics = ast_util::empty_generics();
-        check_equal (&fun_to_str(&decl, abba_ident, None, &generics, mock_interner),
+        assert_eq!(&fun_to_str(&decl, abba_ident, None, &generics, mock_interner),
                      &~"fn abba()");
     }
 
@@ -2295,7 +2294,7 @@ pub mod test {
         });
 
         let varstr = variant_to_str(var,mock_interner);
-        check_equal(&varstr,&~"pub principal_skinner");
+        assert_eq!(&varstr,&~"pub principal_skinner");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/syntax.rc b/src/libsyntax/syntax.rc
index 01ed707b0ae..19ed6809326 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/syntax.rc
+++ b/src/libsyntax/syntax.rc
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ pub mod visit;
 pub mod fold;
 pub mod util {
     pub mod interner;
-    pub mod testing;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/util/interner.rs b/src/libsyntax/util/interner.rs
index 47f49ebadaa..b4a85ce1617 100644
--- a/src/libsyntax/util/interner.rs
+++ b/src/libsyntax/util/interner.rs
@@ -77,32 +77,32 @@ pub fn i1 () {
 pub fn i2 () {
     let i : Interner<@~str> = Interner::new();
     // first one is zero:
-    fail_unless!(i.intern (@~"dog") == 0);
+    assert_eq!(i.intern (@~"dog"), 0);
     // re-use gets the same entry:
-    fail_unless!(i.intern (@~"dog") == 0);
+    assert_eq!(i.intern (@~"dog"), 0);
     // different string gets a different #:
-    fail_unless!(i.intern (@~"cat") == 1);
-    fail_unless!(i.intern (@~"cat") == 1);
+    assert_eq!(i.intern (@~"cat"), 1);
+    assert_eq!(i.intern (@~"cat"), 1);
     // dog is still at zero
-    fail_unless!(i.intern (@~"dog") == 0);
+    assert_eq!(i.intern (@~"dog"), 0);
     // gensym gets 3
-    fail_unless!(i.gensym (@~"zebra" ) == 2);
+    assert_eq!(i.gensym (@~"zebra" ), 2);
     // gensym of same string gets new number :
-    fail_unless!(i.gensym (@~"zebra" ) == 3);
+    assert_eq!(i.gensym (@~"zebra" ), 3);
     // gensym of *existing* string gets new number:
-    fail_unless!(i.gensym (@~"dog") == 4);
-    fail_unless!(i.get(0) == @~"dog");
-    fail_unless!(i.get(1) == @~"cat");
-    fail_unless!(i.get(2) == @~"zebra");
-    fail_unless!(i.get(3) == @~"zebra");
-    fail_unless!(i.get(4) == @~"dog");
+    assert_eq!(i.gensym (@~"dog"), 4);
+    assert_eq!(i.get(0), @~"dog");
+    assert_eq!(i.get(1), @~"cat");
+    assert_eq!(i.get(2), @~"zebra");
+    assert_eq!(i.get(3), @~"zebra");
+    assert_eq!(i.get(4), @~"dog");
 }
 
 #[test]
 pub fn i3 () {
     let i : Interner<@~str> = Interner::prefill([@~"Alan",@~"Bob",@~"Carol"]);
-    fail_unless!(i.get(0) == @~"Alan");
-    fail_unless!(i.get(1) == @~"Bob");
-    fail_unless!(i.get(2) == @~"Carol");
-    fail_unless!(i.intern(@~"Bob") == 1);
+    assert_eq!(i.get(0), @~"Alan");
+    assert_eq!(i.get(1), @~"Bob");
+    assert_eq!(i.get(2), @~"Carol");
+    assert_eq!(i.intern(@~"Bob"), 1);
 }
diff --git a/src/libsyntax/util/testing.rs b/src/libsyntax/util/testing.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 78a175df29f..00000000000
--- a/src/libsyntax/util/testing.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2012 The Rust Project Developers. See the COPYRIGHT
-// file at the top-level directory of this distribution and at
-// http://rust-lang.org/COPYRIGHT.
-//
-// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 <LICENSE-APACHE or
-// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0> or the MIT license
-// <LICENSE-MIT or http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT>, at your
-// option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed
-// except according to those terms.
-
-// support for test cases.
-use core::cmp;
-
-pub pure fn check_equal_ptr<T:cmp::Eq> (given : &T, expected: &T) {
-    if !((given == expected) && (expected == given )) {
-        fail!(fmt!("given %?, expected %?",given,expected));
-    }
-}
-
-pub pure fn check_equal<T:cmp::Eq> (given : T, expected: T) {
-    if !((given == expected) && (expected == given )) {
-        fail!(fmt!("given %?, expected %?",given,expected));
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/test/run-fail/assert-eq-macro-fail.rs b/src/test/run-fail/assert-eq-macro-fail.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a5f438903ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/run-fail/assert-eq-macro-fail.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// error-pattern:expected: 15, given: 14
+
+#[deriving_eq]
+struct Point { x : int }
+
+fn main() {
+    assert_eq!(14,15);
+}
diff --git a/src/test/run-pass/assert-eq-macro-success.rs b/src/test/run-pass/assert-eq-macro-success.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c929b5c6246
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/run-pass/assert-eq-macro-success.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#[deriving_eq]
+struct Point { x : int }
+
+fn main() {
+    assert_eq!(14,14);
+    assert_eq!(~"abc",~"abc");
+    assert_eq!(~Point{x:34},~Point{x:34});
+    assert_eq!(&Point{x:34},&Point{x:34});
+    assert_eq!(@Point{x:34},@Point{x:34});
+}