diff --git a/espresso/src/com.oracle.truffle.espresso.libjavavm/src/com/oracle/truffle/espresso/libjavavm/LibEspresso.java b/espresso/src/com.oracle.truffle.espresso.libjavavm/src/com/oracle/truffle/espresso/libjavavm/LibEspresso.java
index b5d8f2b23fab..40affb3b8d59 100644
--- a/espresso/src/com.oracle.truffle.espresso.libjavavm/src/com/oracle/truffle/espresso/libjavavm/LibEspresso.java
+++ b/espresso/src/com.oracle.truffle.espresso.libjavavm/src/com/oracle/truffle/espresso/libjavavm/LibEspresso.java
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ static int createJavaVM(@SuppressWarnings("unused") IsolateThread thread, JNIJav
         builder.option("java.ExitHost", "true");
         builder.option("java.EnableSignals", "true");
         builder.option("java.ExposeNativeJavaVM", "true");
+        builder.option("java.GuestFieldOffsetStrategy", "graal"); // most "hotspot-like"
         Context context = builder.build();
         context.enter();
         Value bindings;
diff --git a/espresso/src/com.oracle.truffle.espresso/src/com/oracle/truffle/espresso/substitutions/Target_sun_misc_Unsafe.java b/espresso/src/com.oracle.truffle.espresso/src/com/oracle/truffle/espresso/substitutions/Target_sun_misc_Unsafe.java
index 3c2377a31ca2..3dfa81ce20a6 100644
--- a/espresso/src/com.oracle.truffle.espresso/src/com/oracle/truffle/espresso/substitutions/Target_sun_misc_Unsafe.java
+++ b/espresso/src/com.oracle.truffle.espresso/src/com/oracle/truffle/espresso/substitutions/Target_sun_misc_Unsafe.java
@@ -232,7 +232,6 @@ public static final class SafetyGuestFieldOffsetStrategy implements GuestFieldOf
         public int guestOffsetToSlot(long guestOffset) {
             int offset = Math.toIntExact(guestOffset);
             if (forceStatic(offset)) {
-                assert offset >= (SAFETY_STATIC_FIELD_OFFSET - ALLOWED_HIDDEN_FIELDS) : "offset: " + offset;
                 return offset - SAFETY_STATIC_FIELD_OFFSET;
             } else {
                 return offset - SAFETY_FIELD_OFFSET;