diff --git a/include/emp/base/_optional_throw.hpp b/include/emp/base/_optional_throw.hpp
index 947fe17b89..b4cf060952 100644
--- a/include/emp/base/_optional_throw.hpp
+++ b/include/emp/base/_optional_throw.hpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ namespace emp {
     template <typename... EXTRA>
     void assert_throw(std::string filename, size_t line, std::string expr, std::string message, EXTRA &&... extra) {
         std::stringstream ss;
-        ss << "Internal Error (in " << filename << " line " << line << "): " << expr << ".\n\n Message: " << message << "\nn";
+        ss << "Internal Error (in " << filename << " line " << line << "): " << expr << ".\n\n Message: " << message << "\n\n";
         assert_print_first(ss, std::forward<EXTRA>(extra)...);
         throw(std::runtime_error(ss.str()));
     }
diff --git a/include/emp/base/optional_throw.hpp b/include/emp/base/optional_throw.hpp
index 072a6f791f..0b2f1ee78d 100644
--- a/include/emp/base/optional_throw.hpp
+++ b/include/emp/base/optional_throw.hpp
@@ -22,33 +22,33 @@
 
 #if defined( IN_PYTHON )
 
-  #if defined (_MSC_VER )
+  // #if defined (_MSC_VER )
 
-  #define emp_optional_throw_mscv_impl(TEST, MESSAGE)                                     \
+  #define emp_optional_throw(TEST, MESSAGE)                                     \
     do {                                                                  \
       if (!(TEST)) {                                                      \
         emp::assert_throw(__FILE__, __LINE__, #TEST, MESSAGE, 0);                \
       }                                                                   \
     } while(0)
 
-  #define emp_optional_throw_impl(TEST, MESSAGE) emp_optional_throw_mscv_impl(TEST, MESSAGE)
+  // #define emp_optional_throw_impl(TEST, MESSAGE) emp_optional_throw_mscv_impl(TEST, MESSAGE)
 
-  #else
+  // #else
 
-  #define emp_optional_throw_impl(...)                                     \
-    do {                                                                  \
-      if (!(emp_assert_GET_ARG_1(__VA_ARGS__, ~))) {                      \
-        emp::assert_throw(                                             \
-        __FILE__, __LINE__,                                               \
-        emp_assert_STRINGIFY( emp_assert_GET_ARG_1(__VA_ARGS__, ~),  ),   \
-        emp_assert_STRINGIFY( emp_assert_GET_ARG_2(__VA_ARGS__, ~),  ),   \
-        emp_assert_TO_PAIRS(__VA_ARGS__));                                       \
-      }                                                                   \
-    } while(0)
+  // #define emp_optional_throw_impl(...)                                     \
+  //   do {                                                                  \
+  //     if (!(emp_assert_GET_ARG_1(__VA_ARGS__, ~))) {                      \
+  //       emp::assert_throw(                                             \
+  //       __FILE__, __LINE__,                                               \
+  //       emp_assert_STRINGIFY( emp_assert_GET_ARG_1(__VA_ARGS__, ~),  ),   \
+  //       emp_assert_STRINGIFY( emp_assert_GET_ARG_2(__VA_ARGS__, ~),  ),   \
+  //       emp_assert_TO_PAIRS(__VA_ARGS__));                                       \
+  //     }                                                                   \
+  //   } while(0)
 
-    #endif
+  //   #endif
 
-    #define emp_optional_throw(...) emp_optional_throw_impl(__VA_ARGS__)
+    // #define emp_optional_throw(...) emp_optional_throw_impl(__VA_ARGS__)
 
 #elif defined( EMP_NDEBUG )