diff --git a/timm/models/layers/trace_utils.py b/timm/models/layers/trace_utils.py
index ae7fd7c9..83970729 100644
--- a/timm/models/layers/trace_utils.py
+++ b/timm/models/layers/trace_utils.py
@@ -1,18 +1,8 @@
-import torch
 try:
-    from torch.overrides import has_torch_function, handle_torch_function
+    from torch import _assert
 except ImportError:
-    from torch._overrides import has_torch_function, handle_torch_function
-
-
-def _assert(condition, message):
-    r"""A wrapper around Python's assert which is symbolically traceable.
-    This is based on _assert method in torch.__init__.py but brought here to avoid reliance
-    on internal torch fn and allow compatibility with PyTorch < 1.8.
-    """
-    if type(condition) is not torch.Tensor and has_torch_function((condition,)):
-        return handle_torch_function(_assert, (condition,), condition, message)
-    assert condition, message
+    def _assert(condition: bool, message: str):
+        assert condition, message
 
 
 def _float_to_int(x: float) -> int: