diff --git a/wizard-work/spark/verify_dir_analyzer.py b/wizard-work/spark/verify_dir_analyzer.py
index 6abd27f..89a49e7 100644
--- a/wizard-work/spark/verify_dir_analyzer.py
+++ b/wizard-work/spark/verify_dir_analyzer.py
@@ -4,23 +4,30 @@ import subprocess
 import json
 import sys
 
+
+def _check(cond, msg="check failed"):
+    """Explicit failure path -- survives `python3 -O`, where `assert` is compiled away."""
+    if not cond:
+        raise SystemExit(f"FAIL: {msg}")
+
+
 # Test JSON mode
 result = subprocess.run(['python3', 'dir_analyzer.py', '/etc', '--json'], 
                        capture_output=True, text=True, cwd='/root/troupe-standup/wizard-work/spark')
 data = json.loads(result.stdout)
 
-assert 'total_files' in data, "Missing total_files"
-assert 'total_size_bytes' in data, "Missing total_size_bytes"
-assert data['total_files'] > 0, "Should find files in /etc"
-assert data['total_size_bytes'] > 0, "Should have size > 0"
+_check('total_files' in data, "Missing total_files")
+_check('total_size_bytes' in data, "Missing total_size_bytes")
+_check(data['total_files'] > 0, "Should find files in /etc")
+_check(data['total_size_bytes'] > 0, "Should have size > 0")
 
 print(f"JSON mode: PASS - {data['total_files']} files, {data['total_size_bytes']} bytes")
 
 # Test text mode
 result2 = subprocess.run(['python3', 'dir_analyzer.py', '/tmp'],
                         capture_output=True, text=True, cwd='/root/troupe-standup/wizard-work/spark')
-assert 'Total files:' in result2.stdout, "Should show file count"
-assert 'Total size:' in result2.stdout, "Should show size"
+_check('Total files:' in result2.stdout, "Should show file count")
+_check('Total size:' in result2.stdout, "Should show size")
 
 print("Text mode: PASS")
 print("All verification tests passed")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/wizard-work/spark/verify_report.py b/wizard-work/spark/verify_report.py
index c670fb2..0b555f1 100644
--- a/wizard-work/spark/verify_report.py
+++ b/wizard-work/spark/verify_report.py
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 import json
+
+
+def _check(cond, msg="check failed"):
+    """Explicit failure path -- survives `python3 -O`, where `assert` is compiled away."""
+    if not cond:
+        raise SystemExit(f"FAIL: {msg}")
+
 report = json.load(open('/root/.hermes/wizard-outputs/spark/validation_report.json'))
-assert report['summary']['valid_count'] == 1, "Expected 1 valid file"
-assert report['summary']['invalid_count'] == 1, "Expected 1 invalid file"
-assert report['test_passed'] == True, "Test should be marked as passed"
+_check(report['summary']['valid_count'] == 1, "Expected 1 valid file")
+_check(report['summary']['invalid_count'] == 1, "Expected 1 invalid file")
+_check(report['test_passed'] == True, "Test should be marked as passed")
 print("All assertions passed")
 exit(0)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/wizard-work/spark/verify_result.py b/wizard-work/spark/verify_result.py
index 7962798..108832b 100644
--- a/wizard-work/spark/verify_result.py
+++ b/wizard-work/spark/verify_result.py
@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 import json
+
+
+def _check(cond, msg="check failed"):
+    """Explicit failure path -- survives `python3 -O`, where `assert` is compiled away."""
+    if not cond:
+        raise SystemExit(f"FAIL: {msg}")
+
 with open("/root/.hermes/wizard-outputs/spark/scrape_result.json") as f:
     data = json.load(f)
-assert data["title"] == "Example Domain", f"wrong title: {data['title']}"
-assert data["status"] == "success", f"wrong status: {data['status']}"
+_check(data["title"] == "Example Domain", f"wrong title: {data['title']}")
+_check(data["status"] == "success", f"wrong status: {data['status']}")
 print("VALID")
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/wizard-work/spark/verify_scratch_analysis.py b/wizard-work/spark/verify_scratch_analysis.py
index 3cda0dd..8f8edfb 100644
--- a/wizard-work/spark/verify_scratch_analysis.py
+++ b/wizard-work/spark/verify_scratch_analysis.py
@@ -3,19 +3,26 @@
 import json
 import sys
 
+
+def _check(cond, msg="check failed"):
+    """Explicit failure path -- survives `python3 -O`, where `assert` is compiled away."""
+    if not cond:
+        raise SystemExit(f"FAIL: {msg}")
+
+
 with open("/root/.hermes/wizard-outputs/spark/scratch_analysis.json") as f:
     data = json.load(f)
 
 # Verify required fields
-assert "total_files" in data, "Missing total_files"
-assert "total_bytes" in data, "Missing total_bytes"
-assert "file_types" in data, "Missing file_types"
-assert "files" in data, "Missing files array"
+_check("total_files" in data, "Missing total_files")
+_check("total_bytes" in data, "Missing total_bytes")
+_check("file_types" in data, "Missing file_types")
+_check("files" in data, "Missing files array")
 
 # Verify counts match
-assert data["total_files"] == len(data["files"]), "File count mismatch"
-assert data["total_files"] == 165, f"Expected 165 files, got {data['total_files']}"
-assert 230000 <= data["total_bytes"] <= 250000, f"Total bytes out of range: {data['total_bytes']}"
+_check(data["total_files"] == len(data["files"]), "File count mismatch")
+_check(data["total_files"] == 165, f"Expected 165 files, got {data['total_files']}")
+_check(230000 <= data["total_bytes"] <= 250000, f"Total bytes out of range: {data['total_bytes']}")
 
 print("VERIFICATION PASSED")
 print(f"Total files: {data['total_files']}")