diff --git a/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/utils.py b/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/utils.py
index 1fd24a8d..63efffd2 100644
--- a/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/utils.py
+++ b/src/spatialdata_plot/pl/utils.py
@@ -2577,7 +2577,7 @@ def _ensure_table_and_layer_exist_in_sdata(
 
         return True  # not using any table
 
-    assert _ensure_table_and_layer_exist_in_sdata(param_dict.get("sdata"), table_name, table_layer)
+    _ensure_table_and_layer_exist_in_sdata(param_dict.get("sdata"), table_name, table_layer)
 
     method = param_dict.get("method")
     if method not in ["matplotlib", "datashader", None]: