diff --git a/trex_core/adapters/persistence/ledger_skip_store.py b/trex_core/adapters/persistence/ledger_skip_store.py
index aa08374..62e95a7 100644
--- a/trex_core/adapters/persistence/ledger_skip_store.py
+++ b/trex_core/adapters/persistence/ledger_skip_store.py
@@ -98,7 +98,8 @@ class PostgreSQLLedgerSkipStore:
                 )
             conn.commit()
         record = self.get(skip_key)
-        assert record is not None
+        if record is None:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"ledger_skip row missing after upsert for key {skip_key!r}")
         return record, notify
 
     def get(self, skip_key: str) -> LedgerSkipRecord | None: