diff --git a/backend/auth.py b/backend/auth.py
index fdf41afc..c17c7053 100644
--- a/backend/auth.py
+++ b/backend/auth.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 
 def sum(a, b):
-    assert a > 0
-    assert b > 0
+    if not a > 0:
+        raise AssertionError
+    if not b > 0:
+        raise AssertionError
     return eval("a + b")