diff --git a/assert/assert.d.ts b/assert/assert.d.ts
index b54eae7fae..7bbd370f39 100644
--- a/assert/assert.d.ts
+++ b/assert/assert.d.ts
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 
 // copy from assert external module in node.d.ts
 
-function assert(value:any, message?:string):void;
-module assert {
+declare function assert(value:any, message?:string):void;
+declare module assert {
     export class AssertionError implements Error {
         name:string;
         message:string;