diff --git a/backends/arm/operators/op_rsqrt.py b/backends/arm/operators/op_rsqrt.py
index 52bcc937c96..e3937f8c44a 100644
--- a/backends/arm/operators/op_rsqrt.py
+++ b/backends/arm/operators/op_rsqrt.py
@@ -34,5 +34,14 @@ def define_node(
         inputs: List[TosaArg],
         output: TosaArg,
     ) -> None:
-        assert inputs[0].dtype == output.dtype == ts.DType.FP32
+        if len(node.all_input_nodes) != 1:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Expected 1 input for {self.target}, got {len(node.all_input_nodes)}"
+            )
+        if inputs[0].dtype != ts.DType.FP32 or output.dtype != ts.DType.FP32:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Input and output for {self.target} need to be FP32, got "
+                f"{inputs[0].dtype=} and {output.dtype=}"
+            )
+
         tosa_graph.addOperator(ts.TosaOp.Op().RSQRT, [inputs[0].name], [output.name])