diff --git a/lib/internal/errors.js b/lib/internal/errors.js
index 927e121ef3baee..f83458a6a1d70f 100644
--- a/lib/internal/errors.js
+++ b/lib/internal/errors.js
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ function createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator) {
   var skipped = false;
   const util = lazyUtil();
   const actualLines = util
-    .inspect(actual, { compact: false }).split('\n');
+    .inspect(actual, { compact: false, customInspect: false }).split('\n');
   const expectedLines = util
-    .inspect(expected, { compact: false }).split('\n');
+    .inspect(expected, { compact: false, customInspect: false }).split('\n');
   const msg = `Input A expected to ${operator} input B:\n` +
         `${green}+ expected${white} ${red}- actual${white}`;
   const skippedMsg = ' ... Lines skipped';
@@ -235,8 +235,10 @@ class AssertionError extends Error {
       } else if (errorDiff === 1) {
         // In case the objects are equal but the operator requires unequal, show
         // the first object and say A equals B
-        const res = util
-          .inspect(actual, { compact: false }).split('\n');
+        const res = util.inspect(
+          actual,
+          { compact: false, customInspect: false }
+        ).split('\n');
 
         if (res.length > 20) {
           res[19] = '...';
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert.js b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
index e3088360e3324b..96d5ff20a5ce26 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
@@ -899,7 +899,11 @@ common.expectsError(
     message: `${start}\n` +
     `${actExp}\n` +
     '\n' +
-    '  {}'
+    `${minus} {}\n` +
+    `${plus} {\n` +
+    `${plus}   loop: 'forever',\n` +
+    `${plus}   [Symbol(util.inspect.custom)]: [Function]\n` +
+    `${plus} }`
   });
 
   // notDeepEqual tests