diff --git a/docs/BUILD.gn b/docs/BUILD.gn
index c28ffc4e0d..6ad6ebfc4f 100644
--- a/docs/BUILD.gn
+++ b/docs/BUILD.gn
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ group("module_docs") {
 group("third_party_docs") {
   deps = [
     "$dir_pigweed/third_party/boringssl:docs",
+    "$dir_pigweed/third_party/emboss:docs",
     "$dir_pigweed/third_party/freertos:docs",
     "$dir_pigweed/third_party/fuchsia:docs",
     "$dir_pigweed/third_party/googletest:docs",
diff --git a/third_party/emboss/BUILD.gn b/third_party/emboss/BUILD.gn
index 89df5c4239..a0ef87dda1 100644
--- a/third_party/emboss/BUILD.gn
+++ b/third_party/emboss/BUILD.gn
@@ -18,7 +18,20 @@ import("$dir_pw_build/python.gni")
 import("$dir_pw_docgen/docs.gni")
 import("$dir_pw_third_party/emboss/emboss.gni")
 
+config("default_config") {
+  # EMBOSS_DCHECK is used as an assert() for logic embedded in Emboss, where
+  # EMBOSS_CHECK is used to check preconditions on application logic (e.g.
+  # Write() checks the [requires: ...] attribute).
+  defines = [
+    "EMBOSS_CHECK=PW_DCHECK",
+    "EMBOSS_CHECK_ABORTS",
+    "EMBOSS_DCHECK=PW_DCHECK",
+    "EMBOSS_DCHECK_ABORTS",
+  ]
+}
+
 source_set("cpp_utils") {
+  public_configs = [ pw_third_party_emboss_CONFIG ]
   sources = [
     "$dir_pw_third_party_emboss/runtime/cpp/emboss_arithmetic.h",
     "$dir_pw_third_party_emboss/runtime/cpp/emboss_arithmetic_all_known_generated.h",
diff --git a/third_party/emboss/docs.rst b/third_party/emboss/docs.rst
index 59ab754087..1cabc8aaeb 100644
--- a/third_party/emboss/docs.rst
+++ b/third_party/emboss/docs.rst
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Git submodule:
 
 .. code-block:: sh
 
-  git submodule add https://github.com/google/emboss.git third_party/emboss/src
+   git submodule add https://github.com/google/emboss.git third_party/emboss/src
 
 Next, set the GN variable ``dir_pw_third_party_emboss`` to the path of your Emboss
 installation. If using the submodule path from above, add the following to the
@@ -26,7 +26,19 @@ installation. If using the submodule path from above, add the following to the
 
 .. code-block::
 
-  dir_pw_third_party_emboss = "//third_party/emboss/src"
+   dir_pw_third_party_emboss = "//third_party/emboss/src"
+
+..
+   inclusive-language: disable
+
+Optionally, configure the Emboss defines documented at
+`dir_pw_third_party_emboss/runtime/cpp/emboss_defines.h
+<https://github.com/google/emboss/blob/master/runtime/cpp/emboss_defines.h>`_
+by setting the ``pw_third_party_emboss_CONFIG`` variable to a config that
+overrides the defines. By default, checks will use PW_DCHECK.
+
+..
+   inclusive-language: enable
 
 ------------
 Using Emboss
diff --git a/third_party/emboss/emboss.gni b/third_party/emboss/emboss.gni
index 4f90627922..93d8396d7c 100644
--- a/third_party/emboss/emboss.gni
+++ b/third_party/emboss/emboss.gni
@@ -12,8 +12,14 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under
 # the License.
 
+import("//build_overrides/pigweed.gni")
+
 declare_args() {
   # If compiling with Emboss, this variable is set to the path to the Emboss
   # source code.
   dir_pw_third_party_emboss = ""
+
+  # config target for overriding Emboss defines (e.g. EMBOSS_CHECK).
+  pw_third_party_emboss_CONFIG =
+      "$dir_pigweed/third_party/emboss:default_config"
 }