diff --git a/app/scripts/controllers/network/network-controller.ts b/app/scripts/controllers/network/network-controller.ts
index 463565a54..b6fd4a503 100644
--- a/app/scripts/controllers/network/network-controller.ts
+++ b/app/scripts/controllers/network/network-controller.ts
@@ -307,10 +307,9 @@ function isErrorWithCode(error: unknown): error is { code: string | number } {
  * @param value - The value to check.
  */
 function assertNetworkId(value: any): asserts value is NetworkId {
-  assert(
-    /^\d+$/u.test(value) && !Number.isNaN(Number(value)),
-    'value is not a number',
-  );
+  if (!/^\d+$/u.test(value) || Number.isNaN(Number(value))) {
+    throw new Error('value is not a number');
+  }
 }
 
 /**