diff --git a/dandi/download.py b/dandi/download.py
index 497fdaad7..ca94ae7db 100644
--- a/dandi/download.py
+++ b/dandi/download.py
@@ -803,14 +803,9 @@ def _download_file(
                 attempts_allowed=attempts_allowed,
                 downloaded_in_attempt=downloaded_in_attempt,
             )
-            if not attempts_allowed:
+            if not isinstance(attempts_allowed_or_not, int) or not attempts_allowed:
                 yield {"status": "error", "message": str(exc)}
                 return
-            # for clear(er) typing, here we get only with int
-            assert isinstance(attempts_allowed_or_not, int), (
-                f"attempts_allowed_or_not is {attempts_allowed_or_not!r} "
-                f"of type {type(attempts_allowed_or_not)}"
-            )
             attempts_allowed = attempts_allowed_or_not
     else:
         lgr.warning("downloader logic: We should not be here!")