diff --git a/except.cpp b/except.cpp
index fce5fb32..c10abc55 100644
--- a/except.cpp
+++ b/except.cpp
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ win32_error::win32_error (DWORD _id):
     runtime_error ("Win32 error"),
     id (_id)
 {
-    CHECK_SOFT (id != ERROR_SUCCESS);
+    CHECK_NEQ (id, ERROR_SUCCESS);
 }
 
 
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ win32_error::win32_error (void):
     runtime_error ("Win32 error"),
     id (GetLastError ())
 {
-    CHECK_SOFT (id != ERROR_SUCCESS);
+    CHECK_NEQ (id, ERROR_SUCCESS);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/net/except.cpp b/net/except.cpp
index 86851d02..f9737b41 100644
--- a/net/except.cpp
+++ b/net/except.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ net::error::code_to_string (int code) {
     // It should be fine to signcast the code here as Windows guarantees all
     // error messages are positive but appears to use int for compatibility
     DWORD output = FormatMessage (0, NULL, sign_cast<unsigned> (code), 0, message, sizeof (message), NULL);
-    CHECK_HARD (output != 0);
+    CHECK_NEQ (output, 0);
 
     return std::string (message);
 #else