diff --git a/src/container_inspector/cli.py b/src/container_inspector/cli.py
index d53adeb..68f6525 100755
--- a/src/container_inspector/cli.py
+++ b/src/container_inspector/cli.py
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ def container_inspector_squash(image_path, extract_directory):
 
 def _container_inspector_squash(image_path, extract_directory):
     images = get_images_from_dir_or_tarball(image_path)
-    assert len(images) == 1, 'Can only squash one image at a time'
+    if len(images) != 1:
+        raise ValueError('Can only squash one image at a time')
     img = images[0]
     target_loc = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(extract_directory))
     rootfs.rebuild_rootfs(img, target_loc)
@@ -61,7 +62,8 @@ def container_inspector_dockerfile(directory, json=False, csv=False):
 
 
 def _container_inspector_dockerfile(directory, json=False, csv=False):
-    assert json or csv, 'At least one of --json or --csv is required.'
+    if not (json or csv):
+        raise ValueError('At least one of --json or --csv is required.')
     dir_loc = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(directory))
 
     dockerfiles = dockerfile.collect_dockerfiles(location=dir_loc)