diff --git a/specs/_features/eip7594/p2p-interface.md b/specs/_features/eip7594/p2p-interface.md
index 712845c56..3dd199425 100644
--- a/specs/_features/eip7594/p2p-interface.md
+++ b/specs/_features/eip7594/p2p-interface.md
@@ -73,11 +73,16 @@ def verify_data_column_sidecar(sidecar: DataColumnSidecar) -> bool:
     Verify if the data column sidecar is valid.
     """
     # The sidecar index must be within the valid range
-    assert sidecar.index < NUMBER_OF_COLUMNS
+    if sidecar.index >= NUMBER_OF_COLUMNS
+        return False
+
     # A sidecar for zero blobs is invalid
-    assert len(sidecar.kzg_commitments) > 0
+    if len(sidecar.kzg_commitments) == 0:
+        return False
+
     # There should be an equal number of cells/commitments/proofs
-    assert len(sidecar.column) == len(sidecar.kzg_commitments) == len(sidecar.kzg_proofs)
+    if len(sidecar.column) != len(sidecar.kzg_commitments) or len(sidecar.column) != len(sidecar.kzg_proofs):
+        return False
 
     return True
 ```
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/eip7594/unittests/test_networking.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/eip7594/unittests/test_networking.py
index 3797a4ecd..a818c746f 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/eip7594/unittests/test_networking.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/eip7594/unittests/test_networking.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import random
 from eth2spec.test.context import (
-    expect_assertion_error,
     single_phase,
     spec_state_test,
     spec_test,
@@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ def test_verify_data_column_sidecar__invalid_zero_blobs(spec, state):
     sidecar.column = []
     sidecar.kzg_commitments = []
     sidecar.kzg_proofs = []
-    expect_assertion_error(lambda: spec.verify_data_column_sidecar(sidecar))
+    assert not spec.verify_data_column_sidecar(sidecar)
 
 
 @with_eip7594_and_later
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ def test_verify_data_column_sidecar__invalid_zero_blobs(spec, state):
 def test_verify_data_column_sidecar__invalid_index(spec, state):
     sidecar = compute_data_column_sidecar(spec, state)
     sidecar.index = 128
-    expect_assertion_error(lambda: spec.verify_data_column_sidecar(sidecar))
+    assert not spec.verify_data_column_sidecar(sidecar)
 
 
 @with_eip7594_and_later
@@ -80,7 +79,7 @@ def test_verify_data_column_sidecar__invalid_index(spec, state):
 def test_verify_data_column_sidecar__invalid_mismatch_len_column(spec, state):
     sidecar = compute_data_column_sidecar(spec, state)
     sidecar.column = sidecar.column[1:]
-    expect_assertion_error(lambda: spec.verify_data_column_sidecar(sidecar))
+    assert not spec.verify_data_column_sidecar(sidecar)
 
 
 @with_eip7594_and_later
@@ -89,7 +88,7 @@ def test_verify_data_column_sidecar__invalid_mismatch_len_column(spec, state):
 def test_verify_data_column_sidecar__invalid_mismatch_len_kzg_commitments(spec, state):
     sidecar = compute_data_column_sidecar(spec, state)
     sidecar.kzg_commitments = sidecar.kzg_commitments[1:]
-    expect_assertion_error(lambda: spec.verify_data_column_sidecar_kzg_proofs(sidecar))
+    assert not spec.verify_data_column_sidecar(sidecar)
 
 
 @with_eip7594_and_later
@@ -98,7 +97,7 @@ def test_verify_data_column_sidecar__invalid_mismatch_len_kzg_commitments(spec,
 def test_verify_data_column_sidecars__invalid_mismatch_len_kzg_proofs(spec, state):
     sidecar = compute_data_column_sidecar(spec, state)
     sidecar.kzg_proofs = sidecar.kzg_proofs[1:]
-    expect_assertion_error(lambda: spec.verify_data_column_sidecar_kzg_proofs(sidecar))
+    assert not spec.verify_data_column_sidecar(sidecar)
 
 
 # Tests for verify_data_column_sidecar_kzg_proofs