diff --git a/daras_ai/image_input.py b/daras_ai/image_input.py
index 0d9530f22..5e61fcba9 100644
--- a/daras_ai/image_input.py
+++ b/daras_ai/image_input.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from furl import furl
 
 from daras_ai_v2 import settings
+from daras_ai_v2.exceptions import UserError
 
 
 def resize_img_pad(img_bytes: bytes, size: tuple[int, int]) -> bytes:
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ def bytes_to_cv2_img(img_bytes: bytes, greyscale=False) -> np.ndarray:
         flags = cv2.IMREAD_COLOR
     img_cv2 = cv2.imdecode(np.frombuffer(img_bytes, dtype=np.uint8), flags=flags)
     if not img_exists(img_cv2):
-        raise ValueError("Bad Image")
+        raise UserError("Bad Image")
     return img_cv2
 
 
diff --git a/recipes/TextToSpeech.py b/recipes/TextToSpeech.py
index 7494c992d..f56c3957d 100644
--- a/recipes/TextToSpeech.py
+++ b/recipes/TextToSpeech.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from daras_ai.image_input import upload_file_from_bytes, storage_blob_for
 from daras_ai_v2 import settings
 from daras_ai_v2.base import BasePage
-from daras_ai_v2.exceptions import raise_for_status
+from daras_ai_v2.exceptions import raise_for_status, UserError
 from daras_ai_v2.gpu_server import GpuEndpoints, call_celery_task_outfile
 from daras_ai_v2.loom_video_widget import youtube_video
 from daras_ai_v2.text_to_speech_settings_widgets import (
@@ -254,13 +254,16 @@ def run(self, state: dict):
 
             case TextToSpeechProviders.ELEVEN_LABS:
                 xi_api_key, is_custom_key = self._get_elevenlabs_api_key(state)
-                assert (
+                if not (
                     is_custom_key
                     or self.is_current_user_paying()
                     or self.is_current_user_admin()
-                ), """
-                    Please purchase Gooey.AI credits to use ElevenLabs voices <a href="/account">here</a>.
-                    """
+                ):
+                    raise UserError(
+                        """
+                        Please purchase Gooey.AI credits to use ElevenLabs voices <a href="/account">here</a>.
+                        """
+                    )
 
                 voice_model = self._get_elevenlabs_voice_model(state)
                 voice_id = self._get_elevenlabs_voice_id(state)
diff --git a/recipes/VideoBots.py b/recipes/VideoBots.py
index 4c5d2e19b..410416342 100644
--- a/recipes/VideoBots.py
+++ b/recipes/VideoBots.py
@@ -621,12 +621,14 @@ def additional_notes(self):
     def run(self, state: dict) -> typing.Iterator[str | None]:
         request: VideoBotsPage.RequestModel = self.RequestModel.parse_obj(state)
 
-        if state.get("tts_provider") == TextToSpeechProviders.ELEVEN_LABS.name:
-            assert (
-                self.is_current_user_paying() or self.is_current_user_admin()
-            ), """
+        if state.get("tts_provider") == TextToSpeechProviders.ELEVEN_LABS.name and not (
+            self.is_current_user_paying() or self.is_current_user_admin()
+        ):
+            raise UserError(
+                """
                 Please purchase Gooey.AI credits to use ElevenLabs voices <a href="/account">here</a>.
                 """
+            )
 
         user_input = request.input_prompt.strip()
         if not (user_input or request.input_images or request.input_documents):