diff --git a/src/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py b/src/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
index 3d5df0d6c..e51304e77 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ def _format_assertmsg(obj: object) -> str:
     # However in either case we want to preserve the newline.
     replaces = [("\n", "\n~"), ("%", "%%")]
     if not isinstance(obj, str):
-        obj = saferepr(obj)
+        obj = _saferepr(obj)
         replaces.append(("\\n", "\n~"))
 
     for r1, r2 in replaces: