diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/audio/AudioRecorder.java b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/audio/AudioRecorder.java
index acc41141c7..c4c3ca8132 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/audio/AudioRecorder.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/audio/AudioRecorder.java
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ public class AudioRecorder {
       Log.i(TAG, "Running startRecording() + " + Thread.currentThread().getId());
       try {
         if (recorder != null) {
-          throw new AssertionError("We can only record once at a time.");
+          recordingSingle.onError(new IllegalStateException("We can only do one recording at a time!"));
+          return;
         }
 
         ParcelFileDescriptor fds[] = ParcelFileDescriptor.createPipe();
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/conversation/ConversationParentFragment.java b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/conversation/ConversationParentFragment.java
index 5e4112e67f..5aef726a1d 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/conversation/ConversationParentFragment.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/conversation/ConversationParentFragment.java
@@ -3381,13 +3381,8 @@ public class ConversationParentFragment extends Fragment
     requireActivity().setRequestedOrientation(ActivityInfo.SCREEN_ORIENTATION_LOCKED);
 
     voiceNoteMediaController.pausePlayback();
-    try {
-      recordingSession = new RecordingSession(audioRecorder.startRecording());
-      disposables.add(recordingSession);
-    } catch (AssertionError err) {
-      Log.e(TAG, "Could not start audio recording.", err);
-      Toast.makeText(requireContext(), R.string.ConversationActivity_unable_to_record_audio, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
-    }
+    recordingSession = new RecordingSession(audioRecorder.startRecording());
+    disposables.add(recordingSession);
   }
 
   @Override