diff --git a/lib/internal/assert.js b/lib/internal/assert.js
index 36e3bbf57b5613..b6c1253ba99751 100644
--- a/lib/internal/assert.js
+++ b/lib/internal/assert.js
@@ -13,10 +13,13 @@ let white = '';
 const kReadableOperator = {
   deepStrictEqual: 'Expected inputs to be strictly deep-equal:',
   strictEqual: 'Expected inputs to be strictly equal:',
+  strictEqualObject: 'Expected "actual" to be reference-equal to "expected":',
   deepEqual: 'Expected inputs to be loosely deep-equal:',
   equal: 'Expected inputs to be loosely equal:',
   notDeepStrictEqual: 'Expected "actual" not to be strictly deep-equal to:',
   notStrictEqual: 'Expected "actual" to be strictly unequal to:',
+  // eslint-disable-next-line max-len
+  notStrictEqualObject: 'Expected "actual" not to be reference-equal to "expected":',
   notDeepEqual: 'Expected "actual" not to be loosely deep-equal to:',
   notEqual: 'Expected "actual" to be loosely unequal to:',
   notIdentical: 'Inputs identical but not reference equal:',
@@ -67,13 +70,20 @@ function createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator) {
   const actualInspected = inspectValue(actual);
   const actualLines = actualInspected.split('\n');
   const expectedLines = inspectValue(expected).split('\n');
-  const msg = kReadableOperator[operator] +
-        `\n${green}+ actual${white} ${red}- expected${white}`;
-  const skippedMsg = ` ${blue}...${white} Lines skipped`;
 
   let i = 0;
   let indicator = '';
 
+  // In case both inputs are objects explicitly mark them as not reference equal
+  // for the `strictEqual` operator.
+  if (operator === 'strictEqual' &&
+      typeof actual === 'object' &&
+      typeof expected === 'object' &&
+      actual !== null &&
+      expected !== null) {
+    operator = 'strictEqualObject';
+  }
+
   // If "actual" and "expected" fit on a single line and they are not strictly
   // equal, check further special handling.
   if (actualLines.length === 1 && expectedLines.length === 1 &&
@@ -89,7 +99,7 @@ function createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator) {
         return `${kReadableOperator[operator]}\n\n` +
             `${actualLines[0]} !== ${expectedLines[0]}\n`;
       }
-    } else {
+    } else if (operator !== 'strictEqualObject') {
       // If the stderr is a tty and the input length is lower than the current
       // columns per line, add a mismatch indicator below the output. If it is
       // not a tty, use a default value of 80 characters.
@@ -156,6 +166,10 @@ function createErrDiff(actual, expected, operator) {
   }
 
   let printedLines = 0;
+  const msg = kReadableOperator[operator] +
+        `\n${green}+ actual${white} ${red}- expected${white}`;
+  const skippedMsg = ` ${blue}...${white} Lines skipped`;
+
   for (i = 0; i < maxLines; i++) {
     // Only extra expected lines exist
     const cur = i - lastPos;
@@ -274,8 +288,15 @@ class AssertionError extends Error {
         operator === 'notStrictEqual') {
         // In case the objects are equal but the operator requires unequal, show
         // the first object and say A equals B
+        let base = kReadableOperator[operator];
         const res = inspectValue(actual).split('\n');
-        const base = kReadableOperator[operator];
+
+        // In case "actual" is an object, it should not be reference equal.
+        if (operator === 'notStrictEqual' &&
+            typeof actual === 'object' &&
+            actual !== null) {
+          base = kReadableOperator.notStrictEqualObject;
+        }
 
         // Only remove lines in case it makes sense to collapse those.
         // TODO: Accept env to always show the full error.
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert.js b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
index ed6af5310f9428..883ebea1a2df76 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
@@ -415,9 +415,9 @@ assert.throws(
   {
     code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
     name: 'AssertionError [ERR_ASSERTION]',
-    message: strictEqualMessageStart +
+    message: 'Expected "actual" to be reference-equal to "expected":\n' +
              '+ actual - expected\n\n' +
-             '+ [Error: foo]\n- [Error: foobar]\n             ^'
+             '+ [Error: foo]\n- [Error: foobar]'
   }
 );
 
@@ -1022,7 +1022,8 @@ assert.throws(
   assert.throws(
     () => assert.strictEqual(args, { 0: 'a' }),
     {
-      message: `${strictEqualMessageStart}+ actual - expected\n\n` +
+      message: 'Expected "actual" to be reference-equal to "expected":\n' +
+               '+ actual - expected\n\n' +
                "+ [Arguments] {\n- {\n    '0': 'a'\n  }"
     }
   );
@@ -1091,3 +1092,43 @@ assert.throws(
     }
   );
 }
+
+// Indicate where the strings diverge.
+assert.throws(
+  () => assert.strictEqual('test test', 'test foobar'),
+  {
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    name: 'AssertionError [ERR_ASSERTION]',
+    message: strictEqualMessageStart +
+             '+ actual - expected\n\n' +
+             "+ 'test test'\n" +
+             "- 'test foobar'\n" +
+             '        ^'
+  }
+);
+
+// Check for reference equal objects in `notStrictEqual()`
+assert.throws(
+  () => {
+    const obj = {};
+    assert.notStrictEqual(obj, obj);
+  },
+  {
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    name: 'AssertionError [ERR_ASSERTION]',
+    message: 'Expected "actual" not to be reference-equal to "expected": {}'
+  }
+);
+
+assert.throws(
+  () => {
+    const obj = { a: true };
+    assert.notStrictEqual(obj, obj);
+  },
+  {
+    code: 'ERR_ASSERTION',
+    name: 'AssertionError [ERR_ASSERTION]',
+    message: 'Expected "actual" not to be reference-equal to "expected":\n\n' +
+             '{\n  a: true\n}\n'
+  }
+);