diff --git a/portable/CCS/ARM_CM3/port.c b/portable/CCS/ARM_CM3/port.c
index ef5fa5b9340..f3c4e5add03 100755
--- a/portable/CCS/ARM_CM3/port.c
+++ b/portable/CCS/ARM_CM3/port.c
@@ -287,19 +287,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/CCS/ARM_CM4F/port.c b/portable/CCS/ARM_CM4F/port.c
index c43cf0ef314..c675afe67b4 100755
--- a/portable/CCS/ARM_CM4F/port.c
+++ b/portable/CCS/ARM_CM4F/port.c
@@ -306,19 +306,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/GCC/ARM_CM3/port.c b/portable/GCC/ARM_CM3/port.c
index 4aa1f2425d7..9b42eac5a4e 100755
--- a/portable/GCC/ARM_CM3/port.c
+++ b/portable/GCC/ARM_CM3/port.c
@@ -330,19 +330,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/GCC/ARM_CM3_MPU/port.c b/portable/GCC/ARM_CM3_MPU/port.c
index e33df014c0e..619f2b0c8be 100755
--- a/portable/GCC/ARM_CM3_MPU/port.c
+++ b/portable/GCC/ARM_CM3_MPU/port.c
@@ -452,21 +452,25 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
             }
 
             #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
-                {
-                    /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-                     * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-                     * from the hardware. */
-                    configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
-                }
+            {
+                /*
+                 * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+                 * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+                 * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+                 */
+                configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            }
             #endif
 
             #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
-                {
-                    /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-                     * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-                     * from the hardware. */
-                    configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
-                }
+            {
+                /*
+                 * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+                 * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+                 * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+                 */
+                configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
+            }
             #endif
 
             /* Shift the priority group value back to its position within the AIRCR
diff --git a/portable/GCC/ARM_CM4F/port.c b/portable/GCC/ARM_CM4F/port.c
index fd9e6dbb8f2..88fc76db894 100755
--- a/portable/GCC/ARM_CM4F/port.c
+++ b/portable/GCC/ARM_CM4F/port.c
@@ -373,19 +373,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/GCC/ARM_CM4_MPU/port.c b/portable/GCC/ARM_CM4_MPU/port.c
index 1733fd82072..ab76ee84204 100755
--- a/portable/GCC/ARM_CM4_MPU/port.c
+++ b/portable/GCC/ARM_CM4_MPU/port.c
@@ -495,21 +495,25 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
             }
 
             #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
-                {
-                    /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-                     * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-                     * from the hardware. */
-                    configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
-                }
+            {
+                /*
+                 * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried
+                 * from hardware is at least as many as specified in the
+                 * CMSIS __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+                 */
+                configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            }
             #endif
 
             #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
-                {
-                    /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-                     * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-                     * from the hardware. */
-                    configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
-                }
+            {
+                /*
+                 * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried
+                 * from hardware is at least as many as specified in the
+                 * FreeRTOS configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+                 */
+                configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
+            }
             #endif
 
             /* Shift the priority group value back to its position within the AIRCR
diff --git a/portable/GCC/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c b/portable/GCC/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c
index 316dba13b8e..2be4f27704d 100755
--- a/portable/GCC/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c
+++ b/portable/GCC/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c
@@ -361,19 +361,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/IAR/ARM_CM3/port.c b/portable/IAR/ARM_CM3/port.c
index f1c78e46240..d54c3aceb4a 100755
--- a/portable/IAR/ARM_CM3/port.c
+++ b/portable/IAR/ARM_CM3/port.c
@@ -279,19 +279,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/IAR/ARM_CM4F/port.c b/portable/IAR/ARM_CM4F/port.c
index 05d5be0aa65..e0deaf12840 100755
--- a/portable/IAR/ARM_CM4F/port.c
+++ b/portable/IAR/ARM_CM4F/port.c
@@ -317,19 +317,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/IAR/ARM_CM4F_MPU/port.c b/portable/IAR/ARM_CM4F_MPU/port.c
index 69b7bc5d9bc..1b7cca65c86 100755
--- a/portable/IAR/ARM_CM4F_MPU/port.c
+++ b/portable/IAR/ARM_CM4F_MPU/port.c
@@ -431,19 +431,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/IAR/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c b/portable/IAR/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c
index 9217653a7d4..63f83993db9 100755
--- a/portable/IAR/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c
+++ b/portable/IAR/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c
@@ -305,19 +305,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/MikroC/ARM_CM4F/port.c b/portable/MikroC/ARM_CM4F/port.c
index 1936de19447..8ef593f5523 100755
--- a/portable/MikroC/ARM_CM4F/port.c
+++ b/portable/MikroC/ARM_CM4F/port.c
@@ -367,19 +367,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM3/port.c b/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM3/port.c
index 2ffdd9cc8bd..ae7ce37f37b 100755
--- a/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM3/port.c
+++ b/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM3/port.c
@@ -332,19 +332,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM4F/port.c b/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM4F/port.c
index bf2fb86f76a..cb003aa38f9 100755
--- a/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM4F/port.c
+++ b/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM4F/port.c
@@ -398,19 +398,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM4_MPU/port.c b/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM4_MPU/port.c
index e0bd8c86d0f..13e2f8a8ed1 100755
--- a/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM4_MPU/port.c
+++ b/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM4_MPU/port.c
@@ -491,19 +491,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
diff --git a/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c b/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c
index 2e81e324df9..1df54ab2802 100755
--- a/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c
+++ b/portable/RVDS/ARM_CM7/r0p1/port.c
@@ -382,19 +382,23 @@ BaseType_t xPortStartScheduler( void )
 
         #ifdef __NVIC_PRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the CMSIS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the CMSIS
+             * __NVIC_PRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= __NVIC_PRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif
 
         #ifdef configPRIO_BITS
         {
-            /* Check the FreeRTOS configuration that defines the number of
-             * priority bits matches the number of priority bits actually queried
-             * from the hardware. */
-            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits == configPRIO_BITS );
+            /*
+             * Check that the number of implemented priority bits queried from
+             * hardware is at least as many as specified in the FreeRTOS
+             * configPRIO_BITS configuration macro.
+             */
+            configASSERT( ulImplementedPrioBits >= configPRIO_BITS );
         }
         #endif