diff --git a/Lib/sre_compile.py b/Lib/sre_compile.py
index fa21d95f568..27ab1fe7482 100644
--- a/Lib/sre_compile.py
+++ b/Lib/sre_compile.py
@@ -502,8 +502,10 @@ def compile(p, flags=0):
     # print code
 
     # XXX: <fl> get rid of this limitation!
-    assert p.pattern.groups <= 100,\
-           "sorry, but this version only supports 100 named groups"
+    if p.pattern.groups > 100:
+        raise AssertionError(
+            "sorry, but this version only supports 100 named groups"
+            )
 
     # map in either direction
     groupindex = p.pattern.groupdict