diff --git a/toc.go b/toc.go
index 0228410..e3c9f91 100644
--- a/toc.go
+++ b/toc.go
@@ -170,6 +170,17 @@ func Asset(name string) ([]byte, error) {
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("Asset %%s not found", name)
 }
 
+// MustAsset is like Asset but panics when Asset would return an error.
+// It simplifies safe initialization of global variables.
+func MustAsset(name string) []byte {
+	a, err := Asset(name)
+	if (err != nil) {
+		panic("asset: Asset(" + name + "): " + err.Error())
+	}
+
+	return a
+}
+
 // AssetInfo loads and returns the asset info for the given name.
 // It returns an error if the asset could not be found or
 // could not be loaded.