diff --git a/Lib/lib2to3/fixer_util.py b/Lib/lib2to3/fixer_util.py
index 30da893..350a62a 100644
--- a/Lib/lib2to3/fixer_util.py
+++ b/Lib/lib2to3/fixer_util.py
@@ -274,9 +274,9 @@
     """Find the top level namespace."""
     # Scamper up to the top level namespace
     while node.type != syms.file_input:
-        assert node.parent, "Tree is insane! root found before "\
-                           "file_input node was found."
         node = node.parent
+        if not node:
+            raise ValueError("root found before file_input node was found.")
     return node
 
 def does_tree_import(package, name, node):
diff --git a/Lib/lib2to3/refactor.py b/Lib/lib2to3/refactor.py
index badcac2..a4c168d 100644
--- a/Lib/lib2to3/refactor.py
+++ b/Lib/lib2to3/refactor.py
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@
 
                         try:
                             find_root(node)
-                        except AssertionError:
+                        except ValueError:
                             # this node has been cut off from a
                             # previous transformation ; skip
                             continue