diff --git a/javadb/build.xml b/javadb/build.xml
--- a/javadb/build.xml
+++ b/javadb/build.xml
@@ -44,10 +44,12 @@
 		</javac>
 	</target>
 
-	<target name="debug" depends="init, compile">
+	<target name="debug" depends="compile">
+		<echo message="Use ant init to create an initial database." />
 		<java classname="${package.name}.app.App"
 			failonerror="true" fork="yes">
 			<classpath refid="classpath" />
+			<jvmarg line="-ea" />
 			<arg line="${app.host}" />
 		</java>
 	</target>