diff --git a/docs/docsite/rst/dev_guide/testing/sanity/no-assert.rst b/docs/docsite/rst/dev_guide/testing/sanity/no-assert.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0dc7bdf891
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/docsite/rst/dev_guide/testing/sanity/no-assert.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+Sanity Tests » no-assert
+========================
+
+Do not use ``assert`` in production Ansible python code. When running Python
+with optimizations, Python will remove ``assert`` statements, potentially
+allowing for unexpected behavior throughout the Ansible code base.
+
+Instead of using ``assert`` you should utilize simple ``if`` statements,
+that result in raising an exception. There is a new exception called
+``AnsibleAssertionError`` that inherits from ``AnsibleError`` and
+``AssertionError``. When possible, utilize a more specific exception
+than ``AnsibleAssertionError``.
+
+Modules will not have access to ``AnsibleAssertionError`` and should instead
+raise ``AssertionError``, a more specific exception, or just use
+``module.fail_json`` at the failure point.
diff --git a/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py
index 3c00d2f33d..b9f6619d83 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/errors/__init__.py
@@ -172,6 +172,11 @@ class AnsibleError(Exception):
         return error_message
 
 
+class AnsibleAssertionError(AnsibleError, AssertionError):
+    '''Invalid assertion'''
+    pass
+
+
 class AnsibleOptionsError(AnsibleError):
     ''' bad or incomplete options passed '''
     pass
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/asa.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/asa.py
index 76ec107389..f9ffab282b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/asa.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/asa.py
@@ -98,7 +98,8 @@ def get_connection(module):
 
 
 def to_commands(module, commands):
-    assert isinstance(commands, list), 'argument must be of type <list>'
+    if not isinstance(commands, list):
+        raise AssertionError('argument must be of type <list>')
 
     transform = EntityCollection(module, command_spec)
     commands = transform(commands)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
index 1fafd85186..3e32ed9301 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/basic.py
@@ -2248,7 +2248,8 @@ class AnsibleModule(object):
     def fail_json(self, **kwargs):
         ''' return from the module, with an error message '''
 
-        assert 'msg' in kwargs, "implementation error -- msg to explain the error is required"
+        if 'msg' not in kwargs:
+            raise AssertionError("implementation error -- msg to explain the error is required")
         kwargs['failed'] = True
 
         # add traceback if debug or high verbosity and it is missing
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/connection.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/connection.py
index b43c2b8ba7..63b8d923c3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/connection.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/connection.py
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ class ConnectionError(Exception):
 class Connection:
 
     def __init__(self, socket_path):
-        assert socket_path is not None, 'socket_path must be a value'
+        if socket_path is None:
+            raise AssertionError('socket_path must be a value')
         self.socket_path = socket_path
 
     def __getattr__(self, name):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/enos.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/enos.py
index d2db1e8435..246b5e6fdd 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/enos.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/enos.py
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ def get_config(module, flags=None):
 
 
 def to_commands(module, commands):
-    assert isinstance(commands, list), 'argument must be of type <list>'
+    if not isinstance(commands, list):
+        raise AssertionError('argument must be of type <list>')
 
     transform = EntityCollection(module, command_spec)
     commands = transform(commands)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/ironware.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/ironware.py
index a07f62b105..0d80da2302 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/ironware.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/ironware.py
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ def get_connection(module):
 
 
 def to_commands(module, commands):
-    assert isinstance(commands, list), 'argument must be of type <list>'
+    if not isinstance(commands, list):
+        raise AssertionError('argument must be of type <list>')
 
     transform = EntityCollection(module, command_spec)
     commands = transform(commands)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/netcfg.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/netcfg.py
index 9a037ade9c..5f0896df6e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/netcfg.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/netcfg.py
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ class ConfigLine(object):
         return len(self._parents) > 0
 
     def add_child(self, obj):
-        assert isinstance(obj, ConfigLine), 'child must be of type `ConfigLine`'
+        if not isinstance(obj, ConfigLine):
+            raise AssertionError('child must be of type `ConfigLine`')
         self._children.append(obj)
 
 
@@ -263,7 +264,8 @@ class NetworkConfig(object):
                     return item
 
     def get_block(self, path):
-        assert isinstance(path, list), 'path argument must be a list object'
+        if not isinstance(path, list):
+            raise AssertionError('path argument must be a list object')
         obj = self.get_object(path)
         if not obj:
             raise ValueError('path does not exist in config')
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network_common.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network_common.py
index 999a6a8601..8bbe0e40a0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/network_common.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/network_common.py
@@ -222,8 +222,10 @@ def dict_diff(base, comparable):
 
     :returns: new dict object with differences
     """
-    assert isinstance(base, dict), "`base` must be of type <dict>"
-    assert isinstance(comparable, dict), "`comparable` must be of type <dict>"
+    if not isinstance(base, dict):
+        raise AssertionError("`base` must be of type <dict>")
+    if not isinstance(comparable, dict):
+        raise AssertionError("`comparable` must be of type <dict>")
 
     updates = dict()
 
@@ -257,8 +259,10 @@ def dict_merge(base, other):
 
     :returns: new combined dict object
     """
-    assert isinstance(base, dict), "`base` must be of type <dict>"
-    assert isinstance(other, dict), "`other` must be of type <dict>"
+    if not isinstance(base, dict):
+        raise AssertionError("`base` must be of type <dict>")
+    if not isinstance(other, dict):
+        raise AssertionError("`other` must be of type <dict>")
 
     combined = dict()
 
@@ -306,7 +310,8 @@ def conditional(expr, val, cast=None):
         op, arg = match.groups()
     else:
         op = 'eq'
-        assert (' ' not in str(expr)), 'invalid expression: cannot contain spaces'
+        if ' ' in str(expr):
+            raise AssertionError('invalid expression: cannot contain spaces')
         arg = expr
 
     if cast is None and val is not None:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/univention_umc.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/univention_umc.py
index 400e20bcc8..cbc9ea3fd9 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/univention_umc.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/univention_umc.py
@@ -273,7 +273,8 @@ def umc_module_for_edit(module, object_dn, superordinate=None):
 def create_containers_and_parents(container_dn):
     """Create a container and if needed the parents containers"""
     import univention.admin.uexceptions as uexcp
-    assert container_dn.startswith("cn=")
+    if not container_dn.startswith("cn="):
+        raise AssertionError()
     try:
         parent = ldap_dn_tree_parent(container_dn)
         obj = umc_module_for_add(
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/data_pipeline.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/data_pipeline.py
index 08b9d18457..f17e092548 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/data_pipeline.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/amazon/data_pipeline.py
@@ -285,7 +285,8 @@ def check_dp_status(client, dp_id, status):
     :returns: True or False
 
     """
-    assert isinstance(status, list)
+    if not isinstance(status, list):
+        raise AssertionError()
     if pipeline_field(client, dp_id, field="@pipelineState") in status:
         return True
     else:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_group.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_group.py
index cb046a4751..83268a3562 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_group.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/centurylink/clc_group.py
@@ -380,7 +380,8 @@ class ClcGroup(object):
             changed:  Boolean- whether a change was made,
             group:  A clc group object for the group
         """
-        assert self.root_group, "Implementation Error: Root Group not set"
+        if not self.root_group:
+            raise AssertionError("Implementation Error: Root Group not set")
         parent = parent_name if parent_name is not None else self.root_group.name
         description = group_description
         changed = False
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean.py
index 80404df939..683c57d185 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/digital_ocean/digital_ocean.py
@@ -237,7 +237,8 @@ class Droplet(JsonfyMixIn):
                 self.update_attr(json)
 
     def power_on(self):
-        assert self.status == 'off', 'Can only power on a closed one.'
+        if self.status != 'off':
+            raise AssertionError('Can only power on a closed one.')
         json = self.manager.power_on_droplet(self.id)
         self.update_attr(json)
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py
index e308a13284..866905e8c7 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest.py
@@ -424,8 +424,10 @@ class PyVmomiDeviceHelper(object):
         diskspec.device.backing.diskMode = 'persistent'
         diskspec.device.controllerKey = scsi_ctl.device.key
 
-        assert self.next_disk_unit_number != 7
-        assert disk_index != 7
+        if self.next_disk_unit_number == 7:
+            raise AssertionError()
+        if disk_index == 7:
+            raise AssertionError()
         """
         Configure disk unit number.
         """
@@ -1127,7 +1129,8 @@ class PyVmomiHelper(PyVmomi):
         return datastore, datastore_name
 
     def obj_has_parent(self, obj, parent):
-        assert obj is not None and parent is not None
+        if obj is None and parent is None:
+            raise AssertionError()
         current_parent = obj
 
         while True:
@@ -1573,7 +1576,7 @@ def main():
                 result["failed"] = False
         else:
             # This should not happen
-            assert False
+            raise AssertionError()
     # VM doesn't exist
     else:
         if module.params['state'] in ['poweredon', 'poweredoff', 'present', 'restarted', 'suspended']:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest_snapshot.py b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest_snapshot.py
index d5403b31ef..6bab4bf104 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest_snapshot.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/cloud/vmware/vmware_guest_snapshot.py
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ class PyVmomiHelper(object):
             task = vm.RemoveAllSnapshots()
         else:
             # This should not happen
-            assert False
+            raise AssertionError()
 
         if task:
             self.wait_for_task(task)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/clustering/consul_acl.py b/lib/ansible/modules/clustering/consul_acl.py
index b810268735..6c304381d3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/clustering/consul_acl.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/clustering/consul_acl.py
@@ -236,8 +236,9 @@ def set_acl(consul_client, configuration):
     acls_as_json = decode_acls_as_json(consul_client.acl.list())
     existing_acls_mapped_by_name = dict((acl.name, acl) for acl in acls_as_json if acl.name is not None)
     existing_acls_mapped_by_token = dict((acl.token, acl) for acl in acls_as_json)
-    assert None not in existing_acls_mapped_by_token, "expecting ACL list to be associated to a token: %s" \
-                                                      % existing_acls_mapped_by_token[None]
+    if None in existing_acls_mapped_by_token:
+        raise AssertionError("expecting ACL list to be associated to a token: %s" %
+                             existing_acls_mapped_by_token[None])
 
     if configuration.token is None and configuration.name and configuration.name in existing_acls_mapped_by_name:
         # No token but name given so can get token from name
@@ -246,8 +247,10 @@ def set_acl(consul_client, configuration):
     if configuration.token and configuration.token in existing_acls_mapped_by_token:
         return update_acl(consul_client, configuration)
     else:
-        assert configuration.token not in existing_acls_mapped_by_token
-        assert configuration.name not in existing_acls_mapped_by_name
+        if configuration.token in existing_acls_mapped_by_token:
+            raise AssertionError()
+        if configuration.name in existing_acls_mapped_by_name:
+            raise AssertionError()
         return create_acl(consul_client, configuration)
 
 
@@ -266,7 +269,8 @@ def update_acl(consul_client, configuration):
         rules_as_hcl = encode_rules_as_hcl_string(configuration.rules)
         updated_token = consul_client.acl.update(
             configuration.token, name=name, type=configuration.token_type, rules=rules_as_hcl)
-        assert updated_token == configuration.token
+        if updated_token != configuration.token:
+            raise AssertionError()
 
     return Output(changed=changed, token=configuration.token, rules=configuration.rules, operation=UPDATE_OPERATION)
 
@@ -379,12 +383,14 @@ def encode_rules_as_json(rules):
     rules_as_json = defaultdict(dict)
     for rule in rules:
         if rule.pattern is not None:
-            assert rule.pattern not in rules_as_json[rule.scope]
+            if rule.pattern in rules_as_json[rule.scope]:
+                raise AssertionError()
             rules_as_json[rule.scope][rule.pattern] = {
                 _POLICY_JSON_PROPERTY: rule.policy
             }
         else:
-            assert rule.scope not in rules_as_json
+            if rule.scope in rules_as_json:
+                raise AssertionError()
             rules_as_json[rule.scope] = rule.policy
     return rules_as_json
 
@@ -577,7 +583,8 @@ def get_consul_client(configuration):
     token = configuration.management_token
     if token is None:
         token = configuration.token
-    assert token is not None, "Expecting the management token to always be set"
+    if token is None:
+        raise AssertionError("Expecting the management token to always be set")
     return consul.Consul(host=configuration.host, port=configuration.port, scheme=configuration.scheme,
                          verify=configuration.validate_certs, token=token)
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/aci/aci_rest.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/aci/aci_rest.py
index a4822ad4eb..e17e5995d1 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/aci/aci_rest.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/aci/aci_rest.py
@@ -225,16 +225,14 @@ except:
 
 # Optional, only used for XML payload
 try:
-    import lxml.etree
-    assert lxml.etree  # silence pyflakes
+    import lxml.etree  # noqa
     HAS_LXML_ETREE = True
 except ImportError:
     HAS_LXML_ETREE = False
 
 # Optional, only used for XML payload
 try:
-    from xmljson import cobra
-    assert cobra  # silence pyflakes
+    from xmljson import cobra  # noqa
     HAS_XMLJSON_COBRA = True
 except ImportError:
     HAS_XMLJSON_COBRA = False
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/web_infrastructure/apache2_mod_proxy.py b/lib/ansible/modules/web_infrastructure/apache2_mod_proxy.py
index 889dc12668..04d6a4154c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/web_infrastructure/apache2_mod_proxy.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/web_infrastructure/apache2_mod_proxy.py
@@ -249,9 +249,7 @@ class BalancerMember(object):
 
         balancer_member_page = fetch_url(self.module, self.management_url)
 
-        try:
-            assert balancer_member_page[1]['status'] == 200
-        except AssertionError:
+        if balancer_member_page[1]['status'] != 200:
             self.module.fail_json(msg="Could not get balancer_member_page, check for connectivity! " + balancer_member_page[1])
         else:
             try:
@@ -296,9 +294,7 @@ class BalancerMember(object):
                 request_body = request_body + str(values_mapping[k]) + '=0'
 
         response = fetch_url(self.module, self.management_url, data=str(request_body))
-        try:
-            assert response[1]['status'] == 200
-        except AssertionError:
+        if response[1]['status'] != 200:
             self.module.fail_json(msg="Could not set the member status! " + self.host + " " + response[1]['status'])
 
     attributes = property(get_member_attributes)
@@ -323,9 +319,7 @@ class Balancer(object):
     def fetch_balancer_page(self):
         """ Returns the balancer management html page as a string for later parsing."""
         page = fetch_url(self.module, str(self.url))
-        try:
-            assert page[1]['status'] == 200
-        except AssertionError:
+        if page[1]['status'] != 200:
             self.module.fail_json(msg="Could not get balancer page! HTTP status response: " + str(page[1]['status']))
         else:
             content = page[0].read()
@@ -343,9 +337,7 @@ class Balancer(object):
         else:
             for element in soup.findAll('a')[1::1]:
                 balancer_member_suffix = str(element.get('href'))
-                try:
-                    assert balancer_member_suffix is not ''
-                except AssertionError:
+                if not balancer_member_suffix:
                     self.module.fail_json(msg="Argument 'balancer_member_suffix' is empty!")
                 else:
                     yield BalancerMember(str(self.base_url + balancer_member_suffix), str(self.url), self.module)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/parsing/mod_args.py b/lib/ansible/parsing/mod_args.py
index 84361fbcea..baf9e6b457 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/parsing/mod_args.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/parsing/mod_args.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
 
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, string_types
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text
 from ansible.parsing.splitter import parse_kv, split_args
@@ -98,7 +98,8 @@ class ModuleArgsParser:
     def __init__(self, task_ds=None):
         task_ds = {} if task_ds is None else task_ds
 
-        assert isinstance(task_ds, dict), "the type of 'task_ds' should be a dict, but is a %s" % type(task_ds)
+        if not isinstance(task_ds, dict):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError("the type of 'task_ds' should be a dict, but is a %s" % type(task_ds))
         self._task_ds = task_ds
 
     def _split_module_string(self, module_string):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/parsing/vault/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/parsing/vault/__init__.py
index bb89cd64e0..0c9e2e53c6 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/parsing/vault/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/parsing/vault/__init__.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     pass
 
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible import constants as C
 from ansible.module_utils.six import PY3, binary_type
 # Note: on py2, this zip is izip not the list based zip() builtin
@@ -787,7 +787,10 @@ class VaultEditor:
                         fh.write(data)
                     fh.write(data[:file_len % chunk_len])
 
-                    assert fh.tell() == file_len  # FIXME remove this assert once we have unittests to check its accuracy
+                    # FIXME remove this assert once we have unittests to check its accuracy
+                    if fh.tell() != file_len:
+                        raise AnsibleAssertionError()
+
                     os.fsync(fh)
 
     def _shred_file(self, tmp_path):
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py
index 39f64fe458..4a27eaea6d 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/base.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from jinja2.exceptions import UndefinedError
 from ansible import constants as C
 from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, string_types, with_metaclass
 from ansible.module_utils.parsing.convert_bool import boolean
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text, to_native
 from ansible.playbook.attribute import Attribute, FieldAttribute
 from ansible.parsing.dataloader import DataLoader
@@ -209,7 +209,8 @@ class Base(with_metaclass(BaseMeta, object)):
     def load_data(self, ds, variable_manager=None, loader=None):
         ''' walk the input datastructure and assign any values '''
 
-        assert ds is not None, 'ds (%s) should not be None but it is.' % ds
+        if ds is None:
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError('ds (%s) should not be None but it is.' % ds)
 
         # cache the datastructure internally
         setattr(self, '_ds', ds)
@@ -547,7 +548,8 @@ class Base(with_metaclass(BaseMeta, object)):
         and extended.
         '''
 
-        assert isinstance(data, dict), 'data (%s) should be a dict but is a %s' % (data, type(data))
+        if not isinstance(data, dict):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError('data (%s) should be a dict but is a %s' % (data, type(data)))
 
         for (name, attribute) in iteritems(self._valid_attrs):
             if name in data:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
index 50355674df..06d7315488 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/helpers.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 import os
 
 from ansible import constants as C
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable, AnsibleFileNotFound
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable, AnsibleFileNotFound, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 
 try:
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ def load_list_of_blocks(ds, play, parent_block=None, role=None, task_include=Non
     from ansible.playbook.task_include import TaskInclude
     from ansible.playbook.role_include import IncludeRole
 
-    assert isinstance(ds, (list, type(None))), '%s should be a list or None but is %s' % (ds, type(ds))
+    if not isinstance(ds, (list, type(None))):
+        raise AnsibleAssertionError('%s should be a list or None but is %s' % (ds, type(ds)))
 
     block_list = []
     if ds:
@@ -89,11 +90,13 @@ def load_list_of_tasks(ds, play, block=None, role=None, task_include=None, use_h
     from ansible.playbook.handler_task_include import HandlerTaskInclude
     from ansible.template import Templar
 
-    assert isinstance(ds, list), 'The ds (%s) should be a list but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds))
+    if not isinstance(ds, list):
+        raise AnsibleAssertionError('The ds (%s) should be a list but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds)))
 
     task_list = []
     for task_ds in ds:
-        assert isinstance(task_ds, dict), 'The ds (%s) should be a dict but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds))
+        if not isinstance(task_ds, dict):
+            AnsibleAssertionError('The ds (%s) should be a dict but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds)))
 
         if 'block' in task_ds:
             t = Block.load(
@@ -345,7 +348,8 @@ def load_list_of_roles(ds, play, current_role_path=None, variable_manager=None,
     # we import here to prevent a circular dependency with imports
     from ansible.playbook.role.include import RoleInclude
 
-    assert isinstance(ds, list), 'ds (%s) should be a list but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds))
+    if not isinstance(ds, list):
+        raise AnsibleAssertionError('ds (%s) should be a list but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds)))
 
     roles = []
     for role_def in ds:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
index ccd3b323a1..885b5fc3ea 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/play.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ from __future__ import (absolute_import, division, print_function)
 __metaclass__ = type
 
 from ansible import constants as C
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
 from ansible.playbook.base import Base
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ class Play(Base, Taggable, Become):
         Adjusts play datastructure to cleanup old/legacy items
         '''
 
-        assert isinstance(ds, dict), 'while preprocessing data (%s), ds should be a dict but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds))
+        if not isinstance(ds, dict):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError('while preprocessing data (%s), ds should be a dict but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds)))
 
         # The use of 'user' in the Play datastructure was deprecated to
         # line up with the same change for Tasks, due to the fact that
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/playbook_include.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/playbook_include.py
index fc5a32bf7b..1107ac83c2 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/playbook_include.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/playbook_include.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 
 import os
 
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleParserError, AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems
 from ansible.parsing.splitter import split_args, parse_kv
 from ansible.parsing.yaml.objects import AnsibleBaseYAMLObject, AnsibleMapping
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ class PlaybookInclude(Base, Conditional, Taggable):
         up with what we expect the proper attributes to be
         '''
 
-        assert isinstance(ds, dict), 'ds (%s) should be a dict but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds))
+        if not isinstance(ds, dict):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError('ds (%s) should be a dict but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds)))
 
         # the new, cleaned datastructure, which will have legacy
         # items reduced to a standard structure
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
index c9106e90d8..90d6abb14f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/__init__.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 import collections
 import os
 
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleParserError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleParserError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, binary_type, text_type
 from ansible.playbook.attribute import FieldAttribute
 from ansible.playbook.base import Base
@@ -293,7 +293,8 @@ class Role(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
 
     def add_parent(self, parent_role):
         ''' adds a role to the list of this roles parents '''
-        assert isinstance(parent_role, Role)
+        if not isinstance(parent_role, Role):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError()
 
         if parent_role not in self._parents:
             self._parents.append(parent_role)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
index 2e0ef66cb9..dddda27d80 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/role/definition.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 import os
 
 from ansible import constants as C
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, string_types
 from ansible.parsing.yaml.objects import AnsibleBaseYAMLObject, AnsibleMapping
 from ansible.playbook.attribute import Attribute, FieldAttribute
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ class RoleDefinition(Base, Become, Conditional, Taggable):
         if isinstance(ds, int):
             ds = "%s" % ds
 
-        assert isinstance(ds, dict) or isinstance(ds, string_types) or isinstance(ds, AnsibleBaseYAMLObject)
+        if not isinstance(ds, dict) and not isinstance(ds, string_types) and not isinstance(ds, AnsibleBaseYAMLObject):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError()
 
         if isinstance(ds, dict):
             ds = super(RoleDefinition, self).preprocess_data(ds)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
index de7523d130..537d8efd77 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/playbook/task.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 import os
 
 from ansible import constants as C
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleParserError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleParserError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import iteritems, string_types
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native
 from ansible.parsing.mod_args import ModuleArgsParser
@@ -167,7 +167,8 @@ class Task(Base, Conditional, Taggable, Become):
         keep it short.
         '''
 
-        assert isinstance(ds, dict), 'ds (%s) should be a dict but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds))
+        if not isinstance(ds, dict):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError('ds (%s) should be a dict but was a %s' % (ds, type(ds)))
 
         # the new, cleaned datastructure, which will have legacy
         # items reduced to a standard structure suitable for the
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/consul_kv.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/consul_kv.py
index 7fb55cdd10..1bfa8c6ecb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/consul_kv.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/consul_kv.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ RETURN = """
 import os
 import sys
 from ansible.module_utils.six.moves.urllib.parse import urlparse
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.plugins.lookup import LookupBase
 
 try:
@@ -131,7 +131,8 @@ class LookupModule(LookupBase):
             for param in params[1:]:
                 if param and len(param) > 0:
                     name, value = param.split('=')
-                    assert name in paramvals, "%s not a valid consul lookup parameter" % name
+                    if name not in paramvals:
+                        raise AnsibleAssertionError("%s not a valid consul lookup parameter" % name)
                     paramvals[name] = value
         except (ValueError, AssertionError) as e:
             raise AnsibleError(e)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/csvfile.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/csvfile.py
index eadca511bc..ce619fe275 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/csvfile.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/csvfile.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ import codecs
 import csv
 from collections import MutableSequence
 
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.plugins.lookup import LookupBase
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_native, to_text
 
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ class LookupModule(LookupBase):
             try:
                 for param in params[1:]:
                     name, value = param.split('=')
-                    assert(name in paramvals)
+                    if name not in paramvals:
+                        raise AnsibleAssertionError('%s not in paramvals' % name)
                     paramvals[name] = value
             except (ValueError, AssertionError) as e:
                 raise AnsibleError(e)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/ini.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/ini.py
index f6affa957c..e30ce8f45e 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/ini.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/ini.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ import re
 from collections import MutableSequence
 from io import StringIO
 
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six.moves import configparser
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_text
 from ansible.plugins.lookup import LookupBase
@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ class LookupModule(LookupBase):
             try:
                 for param in params[1:]:
                     name, value = param.split('=')
-                    assert(name in paramvals)
+                    if name not in paramvals:
+                        raise AnsibleAssertionError('%s not in paramvals' % name)
                     paramvals[name] = value
             except (ValueError, AssertionError) as e:
                 raise AnsibleError(e)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/password.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/password.py
index 9f28694c89..e2f24616f2 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/password.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/password.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ _raw:
 import os
 import string
 
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_native, to_text
 from ansible.parsing.splitter import parse_kv
 from ansible.plugins.lookup import LookupBase
@@ -250,7 +250,8 @@ def _format_content(password, salt, encrypt=True):
         return password
 
     # At this point, the calling code should have assured us that there is a salt value.
-    assert salt, '_format_content was called with encryption requested but no salt value'
+    if not salt:
+        raise AnsibleAssertionError('_format_content was called with encryption requested but no salt value')
 
     return u'%s salt=%s' % (password, salt)
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/passwordstore.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/passwordstore.py
index 7990a2ad01..3af0109952 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/passwordstore.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/passwordstore.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ import subprocess
 import time
 
 from distutils import util
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_native, to_text
 from ansible.utils.encrypt import random_password
 from ansible.plugins.lookup import LookupBase
@@ -138,7 +138,8 @@ class LookupModule(LookupBase):
             try:
                 for param in params[1:]:
                     name, value = param.split('=')
-                    assert(name in self.paramvals)
+                    if name not in self.paramvals:
+                        raise AnsibleAssertionError('%s not in paramvals' % name)
                     self.paramvals[name] = value
             except (ValueError, AssertionError) as e:
                 raise AnsibleError(e)
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/shelvefile.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/shelvefile.py
index 4e654d2a77..bfb4077f04 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/shelvefile.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/lookup/shelvefile.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ _list:
 """
 import shelve
 
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.plugins.lookup import LookupBase
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_text
 
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ class LookupModule(LookupBase):
             try:
                 for param in params:
                     name, value = param.split('=')
-                    assert(name in paramvals)
+                    if name not in paramvals:
+                        raise AnsibleAssertionError('%s not in paramvals' % name)
                     paramvals[name] = value
 
             except (ValueError, AssertionError) as e:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
index 0894022fbb..013780fa7f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/template/__init__.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ from jinja2.runtime import Context, StrictUndefined
 from jinja2.utils import concat as j2_concat
 
 from ansible import constants as C
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleFilterError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleFilterError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types, text_type
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native, to_text, to_bytes
 from ansible.plugins.loader import filter_loader, lookup_loader, test_loader
@@ -387,7 +387,8 @@ class Templar:
         are being changed.
         '''
 
-        assert isinstance(variables, dict), "the type of 'variables' should be a dict but was a %s" % (type(variables))
+        if not isinstance(variables, dict):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError("the type of 'variables' should be a dict but was a %s" % (type(variables)))
         self._available_variables = variables
         self._cached_result = {}
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/encrypt.py b/lib/ansible/utils/encrypt.py
index b9576dcb32..5e34beddbd 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/encrypt.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/encrypt.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import multiprocessing
 import random
 
 from ansible import constants as C
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import text_type
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_text, to_bytes
 
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ def random_password(length=DEFAULT_PASSWORD_LENGTH, chars=C.DEFAULT_PASSWORD_CHA
     :kwarg chars: The characters to choose from.  The default is all ascii
         letters, ascii digits, and these symbols ``.,:-_``
     '''
-    assert isinstance(chars, text_type), '%s (%s) is not a text_type' % (chars, type(chars))
+    if not isinstance(chars, text_type):
+        raise AnsibleAssertionError('%s (%s) is not a text_type' % (chars, type(chars)))
 
     random_generator = random.SystemRandom()
     return u''.join(random_generator.choice(chars) for dummy in range(length))
diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/plugin_docs.py b/lib/ansible/utils/plugin_docs.py
index 717f023f4d..02943156e3 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/plugin_docs.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/plugin_docs.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ __metaclass__ = type
 
 from collections import MutableMapping, MutableSet, MutableSequence
 
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.module_utils.six import string_types
 from ansible.parsing.plugin_docs import read_docstring
 from ansible.parsing.yaml.loader import AnsibleLoader
@@ -59,7 +60,8 @@ def add_fragments(doc, filename):
             fragment_name, fragment_var = fragment_slug, 'DOCUMENTATION'
 
         fragment_class = fragment_loader.get(fragment_name)
-        assert fragment_class is not None
+        if fragment_class is None:
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError('fragment_class is None')
 
         fragment_yaml = getattr(fragment_class, fragment_var, '{}')
         fragment = AnsibleLoader(fragment_yaml, file_name=filename).get_single_data()
diff --git a/lib/ansible/vars/manager.py b/lib/ansible/vars/manager.py
index 8f2986a548..b5f9b8d1eb 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/vars/manager.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/vars/manager.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ except ImportError:
 from jinja2.exceptions import UndefinedError
 
 from ansible import constants as C
-from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleParserError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable, AnsibleFileNotFound
+from ansible.errors import AnsibleError, AnsibleParserError, AnsibleUndefinedVariable, AnsibleFileNotFound, AnsibleAssertionError
 from ansible.inventory.host import Host
 from ansible.inventory.helpers import sort_groups, get_group_vars
 from ansible.module_utils._text import to_native
@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@ class VariableManager:
     @extra_vars.setter
     def extra_vars(self, value):
         ''' ensures a clean copy of the extra_vars are used to set the value '''
-        assert isinstance(value, MutableMapping), "the type of 'value' for extra_vars should be a MutableMapping, but is a %s" % type(value)
+        if not isinstance(value, MutableMapping):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError("the type of 'value' for extra_vars should be a MutableMapping, but is a %s" % type(value))
         self._extra_vars = value.copy()
 
     def set_inventory(self, inventory):
@@ -146,7 +147,8 @@ class VariableManager:
     @options_vars.setter
     def options_vars(self, value):
         ''' ensures a clean copy of the options_vars are used to set the value '''
-        assert isinstance(value, dict), "the type of 'value' for options_vars should be a dict, but is a %s" % type(value)
+        if not isinstance(value, dict):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError("the type of 'value' for options_vars should be a dict, but is a %s" % type(value))
         self._options_vars = value.copy()
 
     def _preprocess_vars(self, a):
@@ -592,7 +594,8 @@ class VariableManager:
         Sets or updates the given facts for a host in the fact cache.
         '''
 
-        assert isinstance(facts, dict), "the type of 'facts' to set for host_facts should be a dict but is a %s" % type(facts)
+        if not isinstance(facts, dict):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError("the type of 'facts' to set for host_facts should be a dict but is a %s" % type(facts))
 
         if host.name not in self._fact_cache:
             self._fact_cache[host.name] = facts
@@ -607,7 +610,8 @@ class VariableManager:
         Sets or updates the given facts for a host in the fact cache.
         '''
 
-        assert isinstance(facts, dict), "the type of 'facts' to set for nonpersistent_facts should be a dict but is a %s" % type(facts)
+        if not isinstance(facts, dict):
+            raise AnsibleAssertionError("the type of 'facts' to set for nonpersistent_facts should be a dict but is a %s" % type(facts))
 
         if host.name not in self._nonpersistent_fact_cache:
             self._nonpersistent_fact_cache[host.name] = facts
diff --git a/test/sanity/code-smell/no-assert.py b/test/sanity/code-smell/no-assert.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..d0716557b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/sanity/code-smell/no-assert.py
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+from __future__ import print_function
+
+import os
+import re
+import sys
+
+from collections import defaultdict
+
+PATH = 'lib/ansible'
+ASSERT_RE = re.compile(r'.*(?<![-:a-zA-Z#][ -])\bassert\b(?!:).*')
+
+all_matches = defaultdict(list)
+
+for dirpath, dirnames, filenames in os.walk(PATH):
+    for filename in filenames:
+        path = os.path.join(dirpath, filename)
+        if not os.path.isfile(path) or not path.endswith('.py'):
+            continue
+
+        with open(path, 'r') as f:
+            for i, line in enumerate(f.readlines()):
+                matches = ASSERT_RE.findall(line)
+
+                if matches:
+                    all_matches[path].append((i + 1, line.index('assert') + 1, matches))
+
+
+if all_matches:
+    print('Use of assert in production code is not recommended.')
+    print('Python will remove all assert statements if run with optimizations')
+    print('Alternatives:')
+    print('    if not isinstance(value, dict):')
+    print('        raise AssertionError("Expected a dict for value")')
+
+    for path, matches in all_matches.items():
+        for line_matches in matches:
+            for match in line_matches[2]:
+                print('%s:%d:%d: %s' % ((path,) + line_matches[:2] + (match,)))
+    sys.exit(1)