diff --git a/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/IOU.h b/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/IOU.h
index 45663eaa60..33010b4467 100644
--- a/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/IOU.h
+++ b/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/IOU.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ public:
     IOU(std::string_view currencyCode, Account const& issuer)
         : currency_(to_currency(std::string(currencyCode))), issuer_(issuer.id())
     {
+        XRPL_ASSERT(!isXRP(currency_), "IOU: currency code must not resolve to XRP");
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/TxTest.cpp b/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/TxTest.cpp
index ad193f7310..ef82b7e753 100644
--- a/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/TxTest.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/TxTest.cpp
@@ -100,17 +100,24 @@ TxTest::submit(std::shared_ptr<STTx const> stx)
 void
 TxTest::createAccount(Account const& account, XRPAmount xrp, uint32_t accountFlags)
 {
-    ASSERT_EQ(
-        submit(transactions::PaymentBuilder{Account::master, account, xrp}, Account::master).ter,
-        tesSUCCESS);
+    auto const paymentTer =
+        submit(transactions::PaymentBuilder{Account::master, account, xrp}, Account::master).ter;
+
+    if (paymentTer != tesSUCCESS)
+    {
+        throw std::runtime_error("TxTest::createAccount: failed to create account");
+    }
 
     close();
 
     if (accountFlags != 0)
     {
-        ASSERT_EQ(
-            submit(transactions::AccountSetBuilder{account}.setSetFlag(accountFlags), account).ter,
-            tesSUCCESS);
+        auto const accountSetTer =
+            submit(transactions::AccountSetBuilder{account}.setSetFlag(accountFlags), account).ter;
+        if (accountSetTer != tesSUCCESS)
+        {
+            throw std::runtime_error("TxTest::createAccount: failed to set account flags");
+        }
         close();
     }
 }
@@ -174,7 +181,10 @@ TxTest::close()
         for (auto const& [key, tx] : txSet)
         {
             auto result = apply(registry_, accum, *tx, tapNONE, registry_.journal("apply"));
-            ASSERT_TRUE(result.applied) << "TxTest::close: failed to apply transaction";
+            if (!result.applied)
+            {
+                throw std::runtime_error("TxTest::close: failed to apply transaction");
+            }
         }
         accum.apply(*newLedger);
     }
diff --git a/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/TxTest.h b/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/TxTest.h
index 178d092b4f..e0f7cd68a4 100644
--- a/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/TxTest.h
+++ b/src/tests/libxrpl/helpers/TxTest.h
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ asfToLsf(std::uint32_t asf)
         case asfAllowTrustLineLocking:
             return lsfAllowTrustLineLocking;
         default:
-            return 0;
+            throw std::runtime_error("Unknown asf flag");
     }
 }