diff --git a/Lib/wsgiref/handlers.py b/Lib/wsgiref/handlers.py
index 6623b700537cf9..cd0916dc5553fb 100644
--- a/Lib/wsgiref/handlers.py
+++ b/Lib/wsgiref/handlers.py
@@ -237,9 +237,7 @@ def start_response(self, status, headers,exc_info=None):
         self.status = status
         self.headers = self.headers_class(headers)
         status = self._convert_string_type(status, "Status")
-        assert len(status)>=4,"Status must be at least 4 characters"
-        assert status[:3].isdigit(), "Status message must begin w/3-digit code"
-        assert status[3]==" ", "Status message must have a space after code"
+        self._validate_status(status)
 
         if __debug__:
             for name, val in headers:
@@ -250,6 +248,14 @@ def start_response(self, status, headers,exc_info=None):
 
         return self.write
 
+    def _validate_status(self, status):
+        if len(status) < 4:
+            raise AssertionError("Status must be at least 4 characters")
+        if not status[:3].isdigit():
+            raise AssertionError("Status message must begin w/3-digit code")
+        if status[3] != " ":
+            raise AssertionError("Status message must have a space after code")
+
     def _convert_string_type(self, value, title):
         """Convert/check value type."""
         if type(value) is str:
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-05-25-22-09-38.gh-issue-92886.ylwDSc.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-05-25-22-09-38.gh-issue-92886.ylwDSc.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..7854381de30f21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-05-25-22-09-38.gh-issue-92886.ylwDSc.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Replace ``assert`` statements with ``raise AssertionError()`` in :class:`~wsgiref.BaseHandler` so that the tested behaviour is maintained running with optimizations ``(-O)``.