diff --git a/packages/benchmarks/src/utils/run-node.ts b/packages/benchmarks/src/utils/run-node.ts
index a5028da6..9d647583 100644
--- a/packages/benchmarks/src/utils/run-node.ts
+++ b/packages/benchmarks/src/utils/run-node.ts
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ export default async (path: string, options: { persistent?: boolean } = {}): Pro
       setTimeout(() => {
         forceQuit().finally(() => {
           promise.reject(new Error('process did not exit cleanly'))
+        }).catch(() => {
+          promise.reject(new Error('process did not exit cleanly'))
         })
       }, 3000)
 
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/modules/filesystem/utils.ts b/packages/daemon/src/modules/filesystem/utils.ts
index 203a7590..6752418a 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/modules/filesystem/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/modules/filesystem/utils.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'assert/strict'
 import Path from 'path'
 import { CID } from 'multiformats/cid'
 import { DATA_KEY, EncodedEntry, type Entry } from './interface.js'
@@ -9,7 +10,11 @@ export const encodeEntry = (entry: Entry): NonNullable<EncodedEntry> => {
   }
 
   // Parse will strip foreign keys...
-  return EncodedEntry.parse(ee)!
+  const stripped = EncodedEntry.parse(ee)
+
+  assert(stripped != null)
+
+  return stripped
 }
 
 export const decodeEntry = (entry: NonNullable<EncodedEntry>): Entry => ({
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/modules/revisions/utils.ts b/packages/daemon/src/modules/revisions/utils.ts
index 2b9fff3d..be478a00 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/modules/revisions/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/modules/revisions/utils.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import assert from 'assert/strict'
 import Path from 'path'
 import { CID } from 'multiformats/cid'
 import { fromString as uint8arrayFromString } from 'uint8arrays/from-string'
@@ -11,7 +12,11 @@ export const encodeEntry = (entry: Entry): NonNullable<EncodedEntry> => {
   }
 
   // Parse will strip foreign keys...
-  return EncodedEntry.parse(ee)!
+  const stripped = EncodedEntry.parse(ee)
+
+  assert(stripped != null)
+
+  return stripped
 }
 
 export const decodeEntry = (entry: NonNullable<EncodedEntry>): Entry => ({
diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/modules/scheduler/utils.ts b/packages/daemon/src/modules/scheduler/utils.ts
index e0f50739..339b3c00 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/modules/scheduler/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/modules/scheduler/utils.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,13 @@
+import assert from 'assert/strict'
 import { type Entry, EncodedEntry } from './interface.js'
 
 export const encodeEntry = (entry: Entry): NonNullable<EncodedEntry> => {
   // Parse will strip foreign keys...
-  return EncodedEntry.parse(entry)!
+  const stripped = EncodedEntry.parse(entry)
+
+  assert(stripped != null)
+
+  return stripped
 }
 
 export const decodeEntry = (encodedEntry: NonNullable<EncodedEntry>): Entry => ({
diff --git a/packages/daemon/test/modules/groups.spec.ts b/packages/daemon/test/modules/groups.spec.ts
index 365f3817..be5c11a9 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/test/modules/groups.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/test/modules/groups.spec.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ describe('groups', () => {
     const { components } = await create()
     const group = await createGroup(components, 'test')
 
-    assert(group)
+    assert(group != null)
 
     await components.stop()
   })
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ describe('groups', () => {
 
     const database = components[0].components.groups.get(group)
 
-    assert(database)
+    assert(database != null)
     assert.equal(database.manifest.name, name)
 
     client.stop()
diff --git a/packages/e2e-tests/test/connectivity.spec.ts b/packages/e2e-tests/test/connectivity.spec.ts
index 617a7fa0..70be3ad1 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-tests/test/connectivity.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/e2e-tests/test/connectivity.spec.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ describe('connectivity', () => {
     const data: string[] = await runClient(nodes[0], 'addresses')
     const tcp = data.find(d => d.startsWith('/ip4/127.0.0.1/tcp'))
 
-    assert(tcp)
+    assert(tcp != null)
   })
 
   it('displays no connections on startup', async () => {
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ describe('connectivity', () => {
     const peerAData: string[] = await runClient(nodes[0], 'addresses')
     const tcp = peerAData.find(d => d.startsWith('/ip4/127.0.0.1/tcp'))
 
-    assert(tcp)
+    assert(tcp != null)
 
     const peerBData = await runClient(nodes[1], 'connect', tcp)
 
diff --git a/packages/e2e-tests/test/group.spec.ts b/packages/e2e-tests/test/group.spec.ts
index e7c90337..e6bd7c97 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-tests/test/group.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/e2e-tests/test/group.spec.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ describe('group', () => {
     const peerAData: string[] = await runClient(nodes[0], 'addresses')
     const tcp = peerAData.find(d => d.startsWith('/ip4/127.0.0.1/tcp'))
 
-    assert(tcp)
+    assert(tcp != null)
 
     const peerBData = await runClient(nodes[1], 'connect', tcp)
 
diff --git a/packages/e2e-tests/test/revisions.spec.ts b/packages/e2e-tests/test/revisions.spec.ts
index 220c7b87..018b7224 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-tests/test/revisions.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/e2e-tests/test/revisions.spec.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ describe('revisions', () => {
 
     const response = await runClient(node, 'import', group, dataFile.path, virtualDir)
 
-    assert(response.success)
+    assert(response.success === true)
   })
 
   after(async () => {
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ describe('revisions', () => {
   it('has 1 revision after importing a file', async () => {
     const response = await runClient(node, 'revisions', group, virtualDir)
 
-    assert(response)
+    assert(response != null)
     assert(Array.isArray(response))
     assert.equal(response.length, 1)
     assert.equal(response[0].sequence, 0)
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ describe('revisions', () => {
   it("has 0 revisions after overwrite with strategy 'none'", async () => {
     const add = await runClient(node, 'import', group, dataFile.path, virtualDir, '--revisionStrategy', 'none')
 
-    assert(add.success)
+    assert(add.success === true)
 
     const response = await runClient(node, 'revisions', group, virtualDir)
 
     await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 3000))
 
-    assert(response)
+    assert(response != null)
     assert(Array.isArray(response))
     assert.equal(response.length, 0)
     // assert.equal(response[0].sequence, 1)
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@ describe('revisions', () => {
   it("has 1 revisions after overwrite with strategy 'log'", async () => {
     const add = await runClient(node, 'import', group, dataFile.path, virtualDir, '--revisionStrategy', 'log')
 
-    assert(add.success)
+    assert(add.success === true)
 
     const response = await runClient(node, 'revisions', group, virtualDir)
 
-    assert(response)
+    assert(response != null)
     assert(Array.isArray(response))
     assert.equal(response.length, 1)
     assert.equal(response[0].sequence, 2)
@@ -67,11 +67,11 @@ describe('revisions', () => {
   it("has 2 revisions after overwrite with strategy 'all'", async () => {
     const add = await runClient(node, 'import', group, dataFile.path, virtualDir, '--revisionStrategy', 'all')
 
-    assert(add.success)
+    assert(add.success === true)
 
     const response = await runClient(node, 'revisions', group, virtualDir)
 
-    assert(response)
+    assert(response != null)
     assert(Array.isArray(response))
     assert.equal(response.length, 2)
     assert.equal(response[0].sequence, 2)
@@ -81,11 +81,11 @@ describe('revisions', () => {
   it("reduces to 1 revision after overwrite with strategy 'log'", async () => {
     const add = await runClient(node, 'import', group, dataFile.path, virtualDir, '--revisionStrategy', 'log')
 
-    assert(add.success)
+    assert(add.success === true)
 
     const response = await runClient(node, 'revisions', group, virtualDir)
 
-    assert(response)
+    assert(response != null)
     assert(Array.isArray(response))
     assert.equal(response.length, 1)
     assert.equal(response[0].sequence, 2)
@@ -94,11 +94,11 @@ describe('revisions', () => {
   it("reduces to 0 revisions after overwrite with strategy 'none'", async () => {
     const add = await runClient(node, 'import', group, dataFile.path, virtualDir, '--revisionStrategy', 'none')
 
-    assert(add.success)
+    assert(add.success === true)
 
     const response = await runClient(node, 'revisions', group, virtualDir)
 
-    assert(response)
+    assert(response != null)
     assert(Array.isArray(response))
     assert.equal(response.length, 0)
   })
diff --git a/packages/e2e-tests/test/synchronization.spec.ts b/packages/e2e-tests/test/synchronization.spec.ts
index fccbb592..f37cff5e 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-tests/test/synchronization.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/e2e-tests/test/synchronization.spec.ts
@@ -19,12 +19,12 @@ describe('synchronization', () => {
 
     group = (await runClient(nodes[0], 'create-group', 'test')).group
 
-    assert(tcp)
+    assert(tcp != null)
 
     for (let i = 1; i < nodes.length; i++) {
       const response = await runClient(nodes[i], 'connect', tcp)
 
-      assert(response.success)
+      assert(response.success === true)
     }
   })
 
@@ -43,23 +43,23 @@ describe('synchronization', () => {
       virtualPath
     )
 
-    assert(addRes.success)
+    assert(addRes.success === true)
 
     const joinRes = await runClient(nodes[1], 'join-group', group)
 
-    assert(joinRes.success)
+    assert(joinRes.success === true)
 
     // Ensure it syncs...
     const sync = await runClient(nodes[1], 'sync')
 
-    assert(sync.success)
+    assert(sync.success === true)
 
     const listRes = await runClient(nodes[1], 'list')
 
-    assert(listRes)
+    assert(listRes != null)
     assert.equal(typeof listRes, 'object')
-    assert(listRes.items)
-    assert(listRes.total)
+    assert(listRes.items != null)
+    assert(listRes.total != null)
     assert(Array.isArray(listRes.items))
     assert.equal(listRes.items.length, 1)
     assert.equal(listRes.items[0].cid, addRes.imports[0].cid)
@@ -78,25 +78,25 @@ describe('synchronization', () => {
       virtualPath
     )
 
-    assert(addRes.success)
+    assert(addRes.success === true)
 
     // Ensure it syncs...
     const sync = await runClient(nodes[1], 'sync')
 
-    assert(sync.success)
+    assert(sync.success === true)
 
     const listRes = await runClient(nodes[1], 'list')
 
-    assert(listRes)
+    assert(listRes != null)
     assert.equal(typeof listRes, 'object')
-    assert(listRes.items)
-    assert(listRes.total)
+    assert(listRes.items != null)
+    assert(listRes.total != null)
     assert(Array.isArray(listRes.items))
     assert.equal(listRes.items.length, 2)
 
     const item = listRes.items.find((i: { cid: string }) => i.cid === addRes.imports[0].cid)
 
-    assert(item)
+    assert(item != null)
     assert.equal(item.group, group)
     assert.equal(item.path, virtualPath)
   })
diff --git a/packages/e2e-tests/test/utils/run-node.ts b/packages/e2e-tests/test/utils/run-node.ts
index d96469e1..0ed1141b 100644
--- a/packages/e2e-tests/test/utils/run-node.ts
+++ b/packages/e2e-tests/test/utils/run-node.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ export default async (name: string): Promise<{ start(): Promise<void>, stop(): P
       setTimeout(() => {
         forceQuit().finally(() => {
           promise.reject(new Error('process did not exit cleanly'))
+        }).catch(() => {
+          promise.reject(new Error('process did not exit cleanly'))
         })
       }, 3000)
 
diff --git a/packages/helia-pin-manager/test/pin-manager.spec.ts b/packages/helia-pin-manager/test/pin-manager.spec.ts
index 5dd6cbf0..a5d212b7 100644
--- a/packages/helia-pin-manager/test/pin-manager.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/helia-pin-manager/test/pin-manager.spec.ts
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ describe('pin manager', () => {
   it('constructs', () => {
     const pinManager = new PinManager(components)
 
-    assert(pinManager)
+    assert(pinManager != null)
   })
 
   it('all returns all the pins', async () => {
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ describe('pin manager', () => {
     const pins = await pm.all()
 
     for (const pin of pins) {
-      assert(data.pins.find(p => p.cid.equals(pin.cid)))
+      assert(data.pins.find(p => p.cid.equals(pin.cid)) != null)
     }
   })
 
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ describe('pin manager', () => {
       const raw = await pinsDatastore.get(new Key(root.toString()))
       const data = cborg.decode(raw)
 
-      assert(data)
+      assert(data != null)
     })
 
     it('adds all the items in the dag as blocks', async () => {
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ describe('pin manager', () => {
       assert.equal(pairs.length, Object.values(dag).length)
 
       for (const { key } of pairs) {
-        assert(dag.find(b => b.equals(CID.parse(key.baseNamespace()))))
+        assert(dag.find(b => b.equals(CID.parse(key.baseNamespace()))) != null)
       }
     })
 
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ describe('pin manager', () => {
       const raw = await pinsDatastore.get(new Key(root.toString()))
       const data = cborg.decode(raw)
 
-      assert(data)
+      assert(data != null)
       assert.equal(data.status, 'DOWNLOADING')
     })
 
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ describe('pin manager', () => {
       const pin = await pinsDatastore.get(new Key(root.toString()))
 
       assert.equal(downloads.length, 0)
-      assert(pin)
+      assert(pin != null)
     })
 
     it('emits pins:adding event', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/key-manager/test/key-manager.spec.ts b/packages/key-manager/test/key-manager.spec.ts
index f8133fbd..7e510669 100644
--- a/packages/key-manager/test/key-manager.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/key-manager/test/key-manager.spec.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,10 @@ describe('key manager', () => {
       const peerId = await d.keyManager.getPeerId()
       const key = d.keyData.key.deriveHardened(0)
 
-      assert.deepEqual(new Uint8Array(key.privateKey as Buffer), (peerId.privateKey as Uint8Array).slice(4))
+      assert(key.privateKey != null)
+      assert(peerId.privateKey != null)
+
+      assert.deepEqual(new Uint8Array(key.privateKey), (peerId.privateKey).slice(4))
     }))
   })
 
diff --git a/packages/key-manager/test/utils.spec.ts b/packages/key-manager/test/utils.spec.ts
index 44388512..c73b9073 100644
--- a/packages/key-manager/test/utils.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/key-manager/test/utils.spec.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ describe('nameToPath', () => {
     while (paths.length > 0) {
       const item = paths.pop()
 
-      assert(item)
+      assert(item != null)
       assert(!paths.includes(item))
     }
   })
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ describe('nameToPath', () => {
       const nums = path.slice(2).split('/').map(s => Number.parseInt(s))
 
       for (const num of nums) {
-        assert(num)
+        assert(num != null)
         assert(!Number.isNaN(num))
         assert(num > 0)
       }
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ describe('nameToPath', () => {
 describe('decodeKey', () => {
   it('decodes valid keys', () => {
     for (const { key } of data) {
-      assert(decodeKey(key))
+      assert(decodeKey(key) != null)
     }
   })
 })
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ describe('parseKeyData', () => {
     await Promise.all(data.map(async ({ key, psk }) => {
       const keyData = parseKeyData({ key, psk })
 
-      assert(keyData)
+      assert(keyData != null)
       assert.deepEqual(keyData.key, decodeKey(key))
       assert.deepEqual(keyData.psk, uint8ArrayFromString(psk))
     }))
diff --git a/packages/manual-block-broker/src/index.ts b/packages/manual-block-broker/src/index.ts
index 263bd71e..047804f5 100644
--- a/packages/manual-block-broker/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/manual-block-broker/src/index.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export class ManualBlockBroker implements BlockBroker {
 
     signal?.addEventListener('abort', () => {
       this.promises.delete(cid.toString())
-      promise.reject('operation aborted')
+      promise.reject(new Error('operation aborted'))
     })
 
     this.promises.set(cid.toString(), promise)
diff --git a/packages/utils/test/walk.spec.ts b/packages/utils/test/walk.spec.ts
index d4cc931d..c8c00a25 100644
--- a/packages/utils/test/walk.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/utils/test/walk.spec.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ describe('walkDag', () => {
     for await (const getData of walk(blockstore, dag[0])) {
       const data = await getData()
 
-      assert(dag.find(cid => cid.equals(data.cid)))
+      assert(dag.find(cid => cid.equals(data.cid)) != null)
 
       count++
     }