diff --git a/dio/lib/src/options.dart b/dio/lib/src/options.dart
index aa8d2f96d..8631b7135 100644
--- a/dio/lib/src/options.dart
+++ b/dio/lib/src/options.dart
@@ -99,7 +99,13 @@ mixin OptionsMixin {
   late String _baseUrl;
 
   set baseUrl(String value) {
-    assert(value.isEmpty || kIsWeb || Uri.parse(value).host.isNotEmpty);
+    if (value.isNotEmpty && !kIsWeb && Uri.parse(value).host.isEmpty) {
+      throw ArgumentError.value(
+        value,
+        'baseUrl',
+        'Must be a valid URL on platforms other than Web.',
+      );
+    }
     _baseUrl = value;
   }
 
diff --git a/dio/test/options_test.dart b/dio/test/options_test.dart
index 159e597ed..960029430 100644
--- a/dio/test/options_test.dart
+++ b/dio/test/options_test.dart
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ void main() {
       if (kIsWeb) 'api/',
     ];
     for (final url in invalidUrls) {
-      expect(() => BaseOptions(baseUrl: url), throwsA(isA<AssertionError>()));
+      expect(() => BaseOptions(baseUrl: url), throwsA(isA<ArgumentError>()));
     }
     for (final url in validUrls) {
       expect(BaseOptions(baseUrl: url), isA<BaseOptions>());