diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/process_api_blueprint.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/process_api_blueprint.py
index ea7b675f..74e5a7e7 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/process_api_blueprint.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/process_api_blueprint.py
@@ -1898,7 +1898,6 @@ def secret_list(
 def add_secret(body: Dict) -> Response:
     """Add secret."""
     secret_model = SecretService().add_secret(body["key"], body["value"], g.user.id)
-    assert secret_model  # noqa: S101
     return Response(
         json.dumps(SecretModelSchema().dump(secret_model)),
         status=201,
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/user.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/user.py
index 2bbbc137..ad98fbbc 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/user.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/routes/user.py
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ from flask_bpmn.api.api_error import ApiError
 from werkzeug.wrappers import Response
 
 from spiffworkflow_backend.models.user import UserModel
+from spiffworkflow_backend.services.authentication_service import AuthenticationService
 from spiffworkflow_backend.services.authentication_service import (
-    AuthenticationService,
+    MissingAccessTokenError,
 )
 from spiffworkflow_backend.services.authorization_service import AuthorizationService
 from spiffworkflow_backend.services.user_service import UserService
@@ -268,10 +269,10 @@ def login_api_return(code: str, state: str, session_state: str) -> str:
         code, "/v1.0/login_api_return"
     )
     access_token: str = auth_token_object["access_token"]
-    assert access_token  # noqa: S101
+    if access_token is None:
+        raise MissingAccessTokenError("Cannot find the access token for the request")
+
     return access_token
-    # return redirect("localhost:7000/v1.0/ui")
-    # return {'uid': 'user_1'}
 
 
 def logout(id_token: str, redirect_url: Optional[str]) -> Response:
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/authentication_service.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/authentication_service.py
index f4bd357b..95c1eaa8 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/authentication_service.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/authentication_service.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ from werkzeug.wrappers import Response
 from spiffworkflow_backend.models.refresh_token import RefreshTokenModel
 
 
+class MissingAccessTokenError(Exception):
+    """MissingAccessTokenError."""
+
+
 class AuthenticationProviderTypes(enum.Enum):
     """AuthenticationServiceProviders."""
 
diff --git a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/service_task_service.py b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/service_task_service.py
index 15e25a75..6fec8b79 100644
--- a/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/service_task_service.py
+++ b/spiffworkflow-backend/src/spiffworkflow_backend/services/service_task_service.py
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ class ServiceTaskDelegate:
             if value.startswith(secret_prefix):
                 key = value.removeprefix(secret_prefix)
                 secret = SecretService().get_secret(key)
-                assert secret  # noqa: S101
                 return secret.value
 
             file_prefix = "file:"