diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/cli/utils.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/cli/utils.py
index 32a84f4259..e15ce6d3bd 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/cli/utils.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/cli/utils.py
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ def _capture_args(self, ctx: click.Context, args: list[str]) -> None:
                 if (opt := opts[param_name]) is not None:
                     captured_args.append(opt)
             else:
-                assert False  # All parameters should be an Option or an Argument.
+                raise AssertionError("All parameters should be an Option or an Argument")
         MWCtxObj.getFrom(ctx).args = captured_args
 
     def parse_args(self, ctx: click.Context, args: Any) -> list[str]:
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/core/dimensions/_coordinate.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/core/dimensions/_coordinate.py
index 8993c91d74..0bdf25fb0f 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/core/dimensions/_coordinate.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/core/dimensions/_coordinate.py
@@ -956,7 +956,7 @@ def hasRecords(self) -> bool:
 
     def _record(self, name: str) -> DimensionRecord | None:
         # Docstring inherited from DataCoordinate.
-        assert False
+        raise AssertionError()
 
     def __reduce__(self) -> tuple[Any, ...]:
         return (_BasicTupleDataCoordinate, (self._graph, self._values))