diff --git a/client/ayon_maya/api/lib.py b/client/ayon_maya/api/lib.py
index 0242dafc..6df01f49 100644
--- a/client/ayon_maya/api/lib.py
+++ b/client/ayon_maya/api/lib.py
@@ -4093,7 +4093,8 @@ def get_reference_node(members, log=None):
 
         references.add(ref)
 
-    assert references, "No reference node found in container"
+    if not references:
+        return
 
     # Get highest reference node (least parents)
     highest = min(references,
diff --git a/client/ayon_maya/api/plugin.py b/client/ayon_maya/api/plugin.py
index d2678e21..e84919df 100644
--- a/client/ayon_maya/api/plugin.py
+++ b/client/ayon_maya/api/plugin.py
@@ -804,6 +804,8 @@ def update(self, container, context):
         # Get reference node from container members
         members = get_container_members(node)
         reference_node = lib.get_reference_node(members, self.log)
+        if reference_node is None:
+            raise LoadError("No reference node found in container")
         namespace = cmds.referenceQuery(reference_node, namespace=True)
 
         file_type = {
@@ -814,7 +816,8 @@ def update(self, container, context):
             "usd": "USD Import"
         }.get(repre_entity["name"])
 
-        assert file_type, "Unsupported representation: %s" % repre_entity
+        if file_type is None:
+            raise LoadError(f"Unsupported representation: {repre_entity}")
 
         assert os.path.exists(path), "%s does not exist." % path