diff --git a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaCache.c b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaCache.c
index 513ee5a1c2..bed34ea9be 100644
--- a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaCache.c
+++ b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaCache.c
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ struct SMetaCache {
   // query cache
   struct STagFilterResCache {
     TdThreadMutex lock;
-    SHashObj*  pTableEntry;
-    SLRUCache* pUidResCache;
-    uint64_t   keyBuf[3];
+    SHashObj*     pTableEntry;
+    SLRUCache*    pUidResCache;
+    uint64_t      keyBuf[3];
   } sTagFilterResCache;
 };
 
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ _exit:
 int32_t metaCacheUpsert(SMeta* pMeta, SMetaInfo* pInfo) {
   int32_t code = 0;
 
-  // ASSERT(metaIsWLocked(pMeta));
+  // meta is wlocked for calling this func.
 
   // search
   SMetaCache*       pCache = pMeta->pCache;
@@ -222,7 +222,10 @@ int32_t metaCacheUpsert(SMeta* pMeta, SMetaInfo* pInfo) {
   }
 
   if (*ppEntry) {  // update
-    ASSERT(pInfo->suid == (*ppEntry)->info.suid);
+    if (pInfo->suid != (*ppEntry)->info.suid) {
+      metaError("meta/cache: suid should be same as the one in cache.");
+      return TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
+    }
     if (pInfo->version > (*ppEntry)->info.version) {
       (*ppEntry)->info.version = pInfo->version;
       (*ppEntry)->info.skmVer = pInfo->skmVer;
@@ -341,7 +344,7 @@ _exit:
 int32_t metaStatsCacheUpsert(SMeta* pMeta, SMetaStbStats* pInfo) {
   int32_t code = 0;
 
-  // ASSERT(metaIsWLocked(pMeta));
+  // meta is wlocked for calling this func.
 
   // search
   SMetaCache*          pCache = pMeta->pCache;
@@ -450,7 +453,11 @@ int32_t metaGetCachedTableUidList(SMeta* pMeta, tb_uid_t suid, const uint8_t* pK
 
   // do some book mark work after acquiring the filter result from cache
   STagFilterResEntry** pEntry = taosHashGet(pTableMap, &suid, sizeof(uint64_t));
-  ASSERT(pEntry != NULL);
+  if (NULL == pEntry) {
+    metaError("meta/cache: pEntry should not be NULL.");
+    return TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
+  }
+
   *acquireRes = 1;
 
   const char* p = taosLRUCacheValue(pCache, pHandle);
@@ -495,7 +502,7 @@ int32_t metaGetCachedTableUidList(SMeta* pMeta, tb_uid_t suid, const uint8_t* pK
       taosMemoryFree(*p1);
     }
 
-    atomic_store_32(&(*pEntry)->qTimes, 0); // reset the query times
+    atomic_store_32(&(*pEntry)->qTimes, 0);  // reset the query times
     taosArrayDestroy(pInvalidRes);
 
     taosThreadMutexUnlock(pLock);
@@ -551,7 +558,10 @@ int32_t metaUidFilterCachePut(SMeta* pMeta, uint64_t suid, const void* pKey, int
   pBuf[0] = suid;
 
   memcpy(&pBuf[1], pKey, keyLen);
-  ASSERT(sizeof(uint64_t) + keyLen == 24);
+  if (sizeof(uint64_t) + keyLen != 24) {
+    metaError("meta/cache: incorrect keyLen:%" PRId32 " length.", keyLen);
+    return TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
+  }
 
   // add to cache.
   taosLRUCacheInsert(pCache, pBuf, sizeof(uint64_t) + keyLen, pPayload, payloadLen, freePayload, NULL,
diff --git a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaEntry.c b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaEntry.c
index 72f7365a1e..e50931ac06 100644
--- a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaEntry.c
+++ b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaEntry.c
@@ -51,7 +51,9 @@ int metaEncodeEntry(SEncoder *pCoder, const SMetaEntry *pME) {
   } else if (pME->type == TSDB_TSMA_TABLE) {
     if (tEncodeTSma(pCoder, pME->smaEntry.tsma) < 0) return -1;
   } else {
-    ASSERT(0);
+    metaError("meta/entry: invalide table type: %" PRId8 " encode failed.", pME->type);
+
+    return -1;
   }
 
   tEndEncode(pCoder);
@@ -99,7 +101,9 @@ int metaDecodeEntry(SDecoder *pCoder, SMetaEntry *pME) {
     }
     if (tDecodeTSma(pCoder, pME->smaEntry.tsma, true) < 0) return -1;
   } else {
-    ASSERT(0);
+    metaError("meta/entry: invalide table type: %" PRId8 " decode failed.", pME->type);
+
+    return -1;
   }
 
   tEndDecode(pCoder);
diff --git a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaOpen.c b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaOpen.c
index 1b5f742559..a78239eb56 100644
--- a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaOpen.c
+++ b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaOpen.c
@@ -358,7 +358,10 @@ static int tagIdxKeyCmpr(const void *pKey1, int kLen1, const void *pKey2, int kL
     return -1;
   }
 
-  ASSERT(pTagIdxKey1->type == pTagIdxKey2->type);
+  if (pTagIdxKey1->type != pTagIdxKey2->type) {
+    metaError("meta/open: incorrect tag idx type.");
+    return TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
+  }
 
   // check NULL, NULL is always the smallest
   if (pTagIdxKey1->isNull && !pTagIdxKey2->isNull) {
diff --git a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaQuery.c b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaQuery.c
index 6c468b89f6..c6e518e0ca 100644
--- a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaQuery.c
+++ b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaQuery.c
@@ -661,7 +661,11 @@ int32_t metaGetTbTSchemaEx(SMeta *pMeta, tb_uid_t suid, tb_uid_t uid, int32_t sv
         goto _exit;
       }
 
-      ASSERT(c);
+      if (c == 0) {
+        metaError("meta/query: incorrect c: %" PRId32 ".", c);
+        code = TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
+        goto _exit;
+      }
 
       if (c < 0) {
         tdbTbcMoveToPrev(pSkmDbC);
@@ -685,7 +689,11 @@ int32_t metaGetTbTSchemaEx(SMeta *pMeta, tb_uid_t suid, tb_uid_t uid, int32_t sv
     }
   }
 
-  ASSERT(sver > 0);
+  if (sver <= 0) {
+    metaError("meta/query: incorrect sver: %" PRId32 ".", sver);
+    code = TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
+    goto _exit;
+  }
 
   skmDbKey.uid = suid ? suid : uid;
   skmDbKey.sver = sver;
diff --git a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaSnapshot.c b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaSnapshot.c
index 054e785980..d37b0ea3fa 100644
--- a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaSnapshot.c
+++ b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaSnapshot.c
@@ -100,7 +100,10 @@ int32_t metaSnapRead(SMetaSnapReader* pReader, uint8_t** ppData) {
     break;
   }
 
-  ASSERT(pData && nData);
+  if (!pData || !nData) {
+    metaError("meta/snap: invalide nData: %" PRId32 " meta snap read failed.", nData);
+    goto _exit;
+  }
 
   *ppData = taosMemoryMalloc(sizeof(SSnapDataHdr) + nData);
   if (*ppData == NULL) {
@@ -356,7 +359,11 @@ int32_t buildSnapContext(SMeta* pMeta, int64_t snapVersion, int64_t suid, int8_t
   for (int i = 0; i < taosArrayGetSize(ctx->idList); i++) {
     int64_t* uid = taosArrayGet(ctx->idList, i);
     SIdInfo* idData = (SIdInfo*)taosHashGet(ctx->idVersion, uid, sizeof(int64_t));
-    ASSERT(idData);
+    if (!idData) {
+      metaError("meta/snap: null idData");
+      return TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
+    }
+
     idData->index = i;
     metaDebug("tmqsnap init idVersion uid:%" PRIi64 " version:%" PRIi64 " index:%d", *uid, idData->version,
               idData->index);
@@ -473,7 +480,10 @@ int32_t getMetafromSnapShot(SSnapContext* ctx, void** pBuf, int32_t* contLen, in
     int64_t* uidTmp = taosArrayGet(ctx->idList, ctx->index);
     ctx->index++;
     SIdInfo* idInfo = (SIdInfo*)taosHashGet(ctx->idVersion, uidTmp, sizeof(tb_uid_t));
-    ASSERT(idInfo);
+    if (!idInfo) {
+      metaError("meta/snap: null idInfo");
+      return TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
+    }
 
     *uid = *uidTmp;
     ret = MoveToPosition(ctx, idInfo->version, *uidTmp);
@@ -507,7 +517,11 @@ int32_t getMetafromSnapShot(SSnapContext* ctx, void** pBuf, int32_t* contLen, in
              (ctx->subType == TOPIC_SUB_TYPE__TABLE && me.type == TSDB_CHILD_TABLE && me.ctbEntry.suid == ctx->suid)) {
     STableInfoForChildTable* data =
         (STableInfoForChildTable*)taosHashGet(ctx->suidInfo, &me.ctbEntry.suid, sizeof(tb_uid_t));
-    ASSERT(data);
+    if (!data) {
+      metaError("meta/snap: null data");
+      return TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
+    }
+
     SVCreateTbReq req = {0};
 
     req.type = TSDB_CHILD_TABLE;
@@ -528,7 +542,8 @@ int32_t getMetafromSnapShot(SSnapContext* ctx, void** pBuf, int32_t* contLen, in
     } else {
       SArray* pTagVals = NULL;
       if (tTagToValArray((const STag*)p, &pTagVals) != 0) {
-        ASSERT(0);
+        metaError("meta/snap: tag to val array failed.");
+        return TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
       }
       int16_t nCols = taosArrayGetSize(pTagVals);
       for (int j = 0; j < nCols; ++j) {
@@ -572,7 +587,8 @@ int32_t getMetafromSnapShot(SSnapContext* ctx, void** pBuf, int32_t* contLen, in
     ret = buildNormalChildTableInfo(&req, pBuf, contLen);
     *type = TDMT_VND_CREATE_TABLE;
   } else {
-    ASSERT(0);
+    metaError("meta/snap: invalid topic sub type: %" PRId8 " get meta from snap failed.", ctx->subType);
+    ret = -1;
   }
   tDecoderClear(&dc);
 
@@ -593,7 +609,10 @@ SMetaTableInfo getUidfromSnapShot(SSnapContext* ctx) {
     int64_t* uidTmp = taosArrayGet(ctx->idList, ctx->index);
     ctx->index++;
     SIdInfo* idInfo = (SIdInfo*)taosHashGet(ctx->idVersion, uidTmp, sizeof(tb_uid_t));
-    ASSERT(idInfo);
+    if (!idInfo) {
+      metaError("meta/snap: null idInfo");
+      return result;
+    }
 
     int32_t ret = MoveToPosition(ctx, idInfo->version, *uidTmp);
     if (ret != 0) {
diff --git a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaTable.c b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaTable.c
index 60a27bec10..0aaf6417a8 100644
--- a/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaTable.c
+++ b/source/dnode/vnode/src/meta/metaTable.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ static void metaGetEntryInfo(const SMetaEntry *pEntry, SMetaInfo *pInfo) {
     pInfo->suid = 0;
     pInfo->skmVer = pEntry->ntbEntry.schemaRow.version;
   } else {
-    ASSERT(0);
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide table type: %" PRId8 " get entry info failed.", pEntry->type);
   }
 }
 
@@ -342,10 +342,18 @@ int metaAlterSTable(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVCreateStbReq *pReq) {
 
   tdbTbcOpen(pMeta->pTbDb, &pTbDbc, NULL);
   ret = tdbTbcMoveTo(pTbDbc, &((STbDbKey){.uid = pReq->suid, .version = oversion}), sizeof(STbDbKey), &c);
-  ASSERT(ret == 0 && c == 0);
+  if (!(ret == 0 && c == 0)) {
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide ret: %" PRId32 " or c: %" PRId32 "alter stb failed.", ret, c);
+    return -1;
+  }
 
   ret = tdbTbcGet(pTbDbc, NULL, NULL, &pData, &nData);
-  ASSERT(ret == 0);
+  if (ret < 0) {
+    tdbTbcClose(pTbDbc);
+
+    terrno = TSDB_CODE_TDB_STB_NOT_EXIST;
+    return -1;
+  }
 
   oStbEntry.pBuf = taosMemoryMalloc(nData);
   memcpy(oStbEntry.pBuf, pData, nData);
@@ -558,7 +566,8 @@ static void metaBuildTtlIdxKey(STtlIdxKey *ttlKey, const SMetaEntry *pME) {
     ctime = pME->ntbEntry.ctime;
     ttlDays = pME->ntbEntry.ttlDays;
   } else {
-    ASSERT(0);
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide table type: %" PRId8 " build ttl idx key failed.", pME->type);
+    return;
   }
 
   if (ttlDays <= 0) return;
@@ -773,7 +782,10 @@ static int metaAlterTableColumn(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVAlterTbReq *pAl
 
   tdbTbcOpen(pMeta->pUidIdx, &pUidIdxc, NULL);
   tdbTbcMoveTo(pUidIdxc, &uid, sizeof(uid), &c);
-  ASSERT(c == 0);
+  if (c != 0) {
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide c: %" PRId32 " alt tb column failed.", c);
+    return -1;
+  }
 
   tdbTbcGet(pUidIdxc, NULL, NULL, &pData, &nData);
   oversion = ((SUidIdxVal *)pData)[0].version;
@@ -783,7 +795,11 @@ static int metaAlterTableColumn(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVAlterTbReq *pAl
 
   tdbTbcOpen(pMeta->pTbDb, &pTbDbc, NULL);
   tdbTbcMoveTo(pTbDbc, &((STbDbKey){.uid = uid, .version = oversion}), sizeof(STbDbKey), &c);
-  ASSERT(c == 0);
+  if (c != 0) {
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide c: %" PRId32 " alt tb column failed.", c);
+    return -1;
+  }
+
   tdbTbcGet(pTbDbc, NULL, NULL, &pData, &nData);
 
   // get table entry
@@ -792,7 +808,11 @@ static int metaAlterTableColumn(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVAlterTbReq *pAl
   memcpy(entry.pBuf, pData, nData);
   tDecoderInit(&dc, entry.pBuf, nData);
   ret = metaDecodeEntry(&dc, &entry);
-  ASSERT(ret == 0);
+  if (ret != 0) {
+    tDecoderClear(&dc);
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide ret: %" PRId32 " alt tb column failed.", ret);
+    return -1;
+  }
 
   if (entry.type != TSDB_NORMAL_TABLE) {
     terrno = TSDB_CODE_VND_INVALID_TABLE_ACTION;
@@ -812,7 +832,11 @@ static int metaAlterTableColumn(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVAlterTbReq *pAl
     if (iCol >= pSchema->nCols) break;
     pColumn = &pSchema->pSchema[iCol];
 
-    ASSERT(pAlterTbReq->colName);
+    if (NULL == pAlterTbReq->colName) {
+      metaError("meta/table: null pAlterTbReq->colName");
+      return -1;
+    }
+
     if (strcmp(pColumn->name, pAlterTbReq->colName) == 0) break;
     iCol++;
   }
@@ -964,7 +988,10 @@ static int metaUpdateTableTagVal(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVAlterTbReq *pA
 
   tdbTbcOpen(pMeta->pUidIdx, &pUidIdxc, NULL);
   tdbTbcMoveTo(pUidIdxc, &uid, sizeof(uid), &c);
-  ASSERT(c == 0);
+  if (c != 0) {
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide c: %" PRId32 " update tb tag val failed.", c);
+    return -1;
+  }
 
   tdbTbcGet(pUidIdxc, NULL, NULL, &pData, &nData);
   oversion = ((SUidIdxVal *)pData)[0].version;
@@ -977,7 +1004,11 @@ static int metaUpdateTableTagVal(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVAlterTbReq *pA
   /* get ctbEntry */
   tdbTbcOpen(pMeta->pTbDb, &pTbDbc, NULL);
   tdbTbcMoveTo(pTbDbc, &((STbDbKey){.uid = uid, .version = oversion}), sizeof(STbDbKey), &c);
-  ASSERT(c == 0);
+  if (c != 0) {
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide c: %" PRId32 " update tb tag val failed.", c);
+    return -1;
+  }
+
   tdbTbcGet(pTbDbc, NULL, NULL, &pData, &nData);
 
   ctbEntry.pBuf = taosMemoryMalloc(nData);
@@ -1075,7 +1106,11 @@ static int metaUpdateTableTagVal(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVAlterTbReq *pA
     metaUpdateTagIdx(pMeta, &ctbEntry);
   }
 
-  ASSERT(ctbEntry.ctbEntry.pTags);
+  if (NULL == ctbEntry.ctbEntry.pTags) {
+    metaError("meta/table: null tags, update tag val failed.");
+    goto _err;
+  }
+
   SCtbIdxKey ctbIdxKey = {.suid = ctbEntry.ctbEntry.suid, .uid = uid};
   tdbTbUpsert(pMeta->pCtbIdx, &ctbIdxKey, sizeof(ctbIdxKey), ctbEntry.ctbEntry.pTags,
               ((STag *)(ctbEntry.ctbEntry.pTags))->len, pMeta->txn);
@@ -1130,7 +1165,10 @@ static int metaUpdateTableOptions(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVAlterTbReq *p
 
   tdbTbcOpen(pMeta->pUidIdx, &pUidIdxc, NULL);
   tdbTbcMoveTo(pUidIdxc, &uid, sizeof(uid), &c);
-  ASSERT(c == 0);
+  if (c != 0) {
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide c: %" PRId32 " update tb options failed.", c);
+    return -1;
+  }
 
   tdbTbcGet(pUidIdxc, NULL, NULL, &pData, &nData);
   oversion = ((SUidIdxVal *)pData)[0].version;
@@ -1140,7 +1178,11 @@ static int metaUpdateTableOptions(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVAlterTbReq *p
 
   tdbTbcOpen(pMeta->pTbDb, &pTbDbc, NULL);
   tdbTbcMoveTo(pTbDbc, &((STbDbKey){.uid = uid, .version = oversion}), sizeof(STbDbKey), &c);
-  ASSERT(c == 0);
+  if (c != 0) {
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide c: %" PRId32 " update tb options failed.", c);
+    return -1;
+  }
+
   tdbTbcGet(pTbDbc, NULL, NULL, &pData, &nData);
 
   // get table entry
@@ -1149,7 +1191,11 @@ static int metaUpdateTableOptions(SMeta *pMeta, int64_t version, SVAlterTbReq *p
   memcpy(entry.pBuf, pData, nData);
   tDecoderInit(&dc, entry.pBuf, nData);
   ret = metaDecodeEntry(&dc, &entry);
-  ASSERT(ret == 0);
+  if (ret != 0) {
+    tDecoderClear(&dc);
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide ret: %" PRId32 " alt tb options failed.", ret);
+    return -1;
+  }
 
   entry.version = version;
   metaWLock(pMeta);
@@ -1408,7 +1454,8 @@ static int metaSaveToSkmDb(SMeta *pMeta, const SMetaEntry *pME) {
   } else if (pME->type == TSDB_NORMAL_TABLE) {
     pSW = &pME->ntbEntry.schemaRow;
   } else {
-    ASSERT(0);
+    metaError("meta/table: invalide table type: %" PRId8 " save skm db failed.", pME->type);
+    return TSDB_CODE_FAILED;
   }
 
   skmDbKey.uid = pME->uid;