diff --git a/rtl/ibex_if_stage.sv b/rtl/ibex_if_stage.sv
index 875a0e1d..4ce601a8 100644
--- a/rtl/ibex_if_stage.sv
+++ b/rtl/ibex_if_stage.sv
@@ -266,6 +266,11 @@ module ibex_if_stage #(
   assert property (
     @(posedge clk_i) (instr_gnt_i) |-> (instr_req_o) )
   else $warning("There was a grant without a request");
+
+  // assert that the address is word aligned when request is sent
+  assert property (
+    @(posedge clk_i) (instr_req_o) |-> (instr_addr_o[1:0] == 2'b00) ) else
+      $display("Instruction address not word aligned");
 `endif
 
 endmodule
diff --git a/rtl/ibex_load_store_unit.sv b/rtl/ibex_load_store_unit.sv
index 8e2a5208..a0d55651 100644
--- a/rtl/ibex_load_store_unit.sv
+++ b/rtl/ibex_load_store_unit.sv
@@ -482,5 +482,10 @@ module ibex_load_store_unit (
 
   // assert that the address does not contain X when request is sent
   assert property ( @(posedge clk_i) (data_req_o) |-> (!$isunknown(data_addr_o)) );
+
+  // assert that the address is word aligned when request is sent
+  assert property (
+    @(posedge clk_i) (data_req_o) |-> (data_addr_o[1:0] == 2'b00) ) else
+      $display("Data address not word aligned");
 `endif
 endmodule