diff --git a/src/backup.cc b/src/backup.cc
index 50adba6a..5835a7e5 100644
--- a/src/backup.cc
+++ b/src/backup.cc
@@ -178,12 +178,7 @@ void Backup::Work_BeginInitialize(Database::Baton* baton) {
     assert(baton->db->open);
     baton->db->pending++;
     auto env = baton->db->Env();
-    int UNUSED(status) = napi_create_async_work(
-        env, NULL, Napi::String::New(env, "sqlite3.Backup.Initialize"),
-        Work_Initialize, Work_AfterInitialize, baton, &baton->request
-    );
-    assert(status == 0);
-    napi_queue_async_work(env, baton->request);
+    CREATE_WORK("sqlite3.Backup.Initialize", Work_Initialize, Work_AfterInitialize);
 }
 
 void Backup::Work_Initialize(napi_env e, void* data) {
diff --git a/src/database.cc b/src/database.cc
index 77d8f707..7f89c10c 100644
--- a/src/database.cc
+++ b/src/database.cc
@@ -152,12 +152,7 @@ Database::Database(const Napi::CallbackInfo& info) : Napi::ObjectWrap<Database>(
 
 void Database::Work_BeginOpen(Baton* baton) {
     auto env = baton->db->Env();
-    int UNUSED(status) = napi_create_async_work(
-        env, NULL, Napi::String::New(env, "sqlite3.Database.Open"),
-        Work_Open, Work_AfterOpen, baton, &baton->request
-    );
-    assert(status == 0);
-    napi_queue_async_work(env, baton->request);
+    CREATE_WORK("sqlite3.Database.Open", Work_Open, Work_AfterOpen);
 }
 
 void Database::Work_Open(napi_env e, void* data) {
@@ -245,13 +240,7 @@ void Database::Work_BeginClose(Baton* baton) {
     baton->db->closing = true;
 
     auto env = baton->db->Env();
-
-    int UNUSED(status) = napi_create_async_work(
-        env, NULL, Napi::String::New(env, "sqlite3.Database.Close"),
-        Work_Close, Work_AfterClose, baton, &baton->request
-    );
-    assert(status == 0);
-    napi_queue_async_work(env, baton->request);
+    CREATE_WORK("sqlite3.Database.Close", Work_Close, Work_AfterClose);
 }
 
 void Database::Work_Close(napi_env e, void* data) {
@@ -585,13 +574,9 @@ void Database::Work_BeginExec(Baton* baton) {
     assert(baton->db->_handle);
     assert(baton->db->pending == 0);
     baton->db->pending++;
+
     auto env = baton->db->Env();
-    int UNUSED(status) = napi_create_async_work(
-        env, NULL, Napi::String::New(env, "sqlite3.Database.Exec"),
-        Work_Exec, Work_AfterExec, baton, &baton->request
-    );
-    assert(status == 0);
-    napi_queue_async_work(env, baton->request);
+    CREATE_WORK("sqlite3.Database.Exec", Work_Exec, Work_AfterExec);
 }
 
 void Database::Work_Exec(napi_env e, void* data) {
@@ -694,13 +679,9 @@ void Database::Work_BeginLoadExtension(Baton* baton) {
     assert(baton->db->_handle);
     assert(baton->db->pending == 0);
     baton->db->pending++;
+
     auto env = baton->db->Env();
-    int UNUSED(status) = napi_create_async_work(
-        env, NULL, Napi::String::New(env, "sqlite3.Database.LoadExtension"),
-        Work_LoadExtension, Work_AfterLoadExtension, baton, &baton->request
-    );
-    assert(status == 0);
-    napi_queue_async_work(env, baton->request);
+    CREATE_WORK("sqlite3.Database.LoadExtension", Work_LoadExtension, Work_AfterLoadExtension);
 }
 
 void Database::Work_LoadExtension(napi_env e, void* data) {
diff --git a/src/macros.h b/src/macros.h
index 8e4139d4..3bcde83c 100644
--- a/src/macros.h
+++ b/src/macros.h
@@ -23,13 +23,6 @@ inline bool OtherIsInt(Napi::Number source) {
     }
 }
 
-#ifdef UNUSED
-#elif defined(__GNUC__) 
-# define UNUSED(x) UNUSED_ ## x __attribute__((unused)) 
-#else 
-# define UNUSED(x) x 
-#endif
-
 #define IS_FUNCTION(cb) \
     !cb.IsUndefined() && cb.IsFunction()
 
@@ -144,6 +137,19 @@ inline bool OtherIsInt(Napi::Number source) {
     static void Work_##name(napi_env env, void* data);                         \
     static void Work_After##name(napi_env env, napi_status status, void* data);
 
+#ifdef DEBUG
+    #define ASSERT_STATUS() assert(status == 0);
+#else
+    #define ASSERT_STATUS() (void)status;
+#endif
+
+#define CREATE_WORK(name, workerFn, afterFn)                                    \
+    int status = napi_create_async_work(env, NULL, Napi::String::New(env, name),\
+                             workerFn, afterFn, baton, &baton->request);        \
+                                                                                \
+    ASSERT_STATUS();                                                            \
+    napi_queue_async_work(env, baton->request);
+
 #define STATEMENT_BEGIN(type)                                                  \
     assert(baton);                                                             \
     assert(baton->stmt);                                                       \
@@ -153,12 +159,7 @@ inline bool OtherIsInt(Napi::Number source) {
     baton->stmt->locked = true;                                                \
     baton->stmt->db->pending++;                                                \
     auto env = baton->stmt->Env();                                             \
-    int UNUSED(status) = napi_create_async_work(                               \
-        env, NULL, Napi::String::New(env, "sqlite3.Statement."#type),          \
-        Work_##type, Work_After##type, baton, &baton->request                  \
-    );                                                                         \
-    assert(status == 0);                                                       \
-    napi_queue_async_work(env, baton->request);
+    CREATE_WORK("sqlite3.Statement."#type, Work_##type, Work_After##type);
 
 #define STATEMENT_INIT(type)                                                   \
     type* baton = static_cast<type*>(data);                                    \
@@ -189,12 +190,7 @@ inline bool OtherIsInt(Napi::Number source) {
     baton->backup->locked = true;                                              \
     baton->backup->db->pending++;                                              \
     auto env = baton->backup->Env();                                           \
-    int UNUSED(status) = napi_create_async_work(                               \
-        env, NULL, Napi::String::New(env, "sqlite3.Backup."#type),             \
-        Work_##type, Work_After##type, baton, &baton->request                  \
-    );                                                                         \
-    assert(status == 0);                                                       \
-    napi_queue_async_work(env, baton->request);
+    CREATE_WORK("sqlite3.Backup."#type, Work_##type, Work_After##type);
 
 #define BACKUP_INIT(type)                                                      \
     type* baton = static_cast<type*>(data);                                    \
diff --git a/src/statement.cc b/src/statement.cc
index 2d6daa41..b39f0c83 100644
--- a/src/statement.cc
+++ b/src/statement.cc
@@ -121,13 +121,9 @@ Statement::Statement(const Napi::CallbackInfo& info) : Napi::ObjectWrap<Statemen
 void Statement::Work_BeginPrepare(Database::Baton* baton) {
     assert(baton->db->open);
     baton->db->pending++;
+
     auto env = baton->db->Env();
-    int UNUSED(status) = napi_create_async_work(
-        env, NULL, Napi::String::New(env, "sqlite3.Statement.Prepare"),
-        Work_Prepare, Work_AfterPrepare, baton, &baton->request
-    );
-    assert(status == 0);
-    napi_queue_async_work(env, baton->request);
+    CREATE_WORK("sqlite3.Statement.Prepare", Work_Prepare, Work_AfterPrepare);
 }
 
 void Statement::Work_Prepare(napi_env e, void* data) {