diff --git a/src/xrt/include/xrt/xrt_compiler.h b/src/xrt/include/xrt/xrt_compiler.h
index 344cb8927..69e69b028 100644
--- a/src/xrt/include/xrt/xrt_compiler.h
+++ b/src/xrt/include/xrt/xrt_compiler.h
@@ -42,3 +42,14 @@
 #else
 #define XRT_MAYBE_UNUSED
 #endif
+
+/*!
+ * @define XRT_DEBUGBREAK()
+ * To trigger a trap/break in the debugger.
+ */
+#if defined(__clang__) || defined(__GNUC__) 
+#define XRT_DEBUGBREAK() __builtin_trap()
+#elif defined(_MSC_VER)
+#include <intrin.h>
+#define XRT_DEBUGBREAK() __debugbreak()
+#endif