diff --git a/userslash/__init__.py b/userslash/__init__.py
index b1f1d74..fda9f69 100644
--- a/userslash/__init__.py
+++ b/userslash/__init__.py
@@ -135,7 +135,8 @@ class UserSlash(commands.Cog):
         self, before: discord.User, after: discord.User
     ) -> None:
         """Update the slash-command name when the bot's username changes."""
-        assert self.bot.user
+        if not self.bot.user:
+            raise AssertionError
         if after.id != self.bot.user.id or before.name == after.name:
             return
 
diff --git a/userslash/context.py b/userslash/context.py
index abbf13d..39ba7f7 100644
--- a/userslash/context.py
+++ b/userslash/context.py
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ class InterContext(commands.Context):
         try:
             self = contexts.get()
             if recreate_message:
-                assert self.prefix is not None
+                if self.prefix is None:
+                    raise AssertionError
                 self.message._recreate_from_interaction(interaction, prefix)
                 view = self.view = StringView(self.message.content)
                 view.skip_string(self.prefix)
@@ -155,7 +156,8 @@ class InterContext(commands.Context):
             command = self.bot.get_command(command) or command
         signature: str
         if signature := getattr(command, "signature", ""):
-            assert not isinstance(command, str)
+            if isinstance(command, str):
+                raise AssertionError()
             command = copy(command)
             command.usage = f"arguments:{signature}"
         return await super().send_help(command)
diff --git a/userslash/message.py b/userslash/message.py
index 32a8591..46e7a97 100644
--- a/userslash/message.py
+++ b/userslash/message.py
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ class InterMessage(discord.Message):
     def _from_interaction(
         cls, interaction: discord.Interaction, prefix: str
     ) -> "InterMessage":
-        assert interaction.data
+        if not interaction.data:
+            raise AssertionError
         assert interaction.client.user
 
         self = cls.__new__(cls)
@@ -126,7 +127,8 @@ class InterMessage(discord.Message):
     @staticmethod
     def _make_dm_channel(interaction: discord.Interaction) -> discord.DMChannel:
         """Fabricate a minimal DMChannel when the real one is unavailable."""
-        assert interaction.client.user
+        if not interaction.client.user:
+            raise AssertionError
         user = interaction.user
         user_json = (
             user._to_minimal_user_json()
@@ -156,7 +158,8 @@ class InterMessage(discord.Message):
     def _recreate_from_interaction(
         self, interaction: discord.Interaction, prefix: str
     ) -> None:
-        assert interaction.data and interaction.client.user
+        if not (interaction.data and interaction.client.user):
+            raise AssertionError
 
         self.content = f"{prefix}{interaction.namespace.command}"
         if interaction.namespace.arguments:
diff --git a/userslash/slash_bridge.py b/userslash/slash_bridge.py
index 71cde72..33015d7 100644
--- a/userslash/slash_bridge.py
+++ b/userslash/slash_bridge.py
@@ -357,7 +357,8 @@ async def _autocomplete(
 
 @user_slash_command.error
 async def _error(interaction: discord.Interaction, error: Exception):
-    assert isinstance(interaction.client, Red)
+    if not isinstance(interaction.client, Red):
+        raise AssertionError
 
     # Log the original error for debugging
     LOG.error(f"Slash command error for user {interaction.user.id}: {error}", exc_info=error)