diff --git a/llvm/tools/llc/llc.cpp b/llvm/tools/llc/llc.cpp
index 74d39991f6d5..dcd54c18401d 100644
--- a/llvm/tools/llc/llc.cpp
+++ b/llvm/tools/llc/llc.cpp
@@ -617,7 +617,11 @@ static int compileModule(char **argv, SmallVectorImpl<PassPlugin> &PluginList,
     // to avoid a memory leak.
     Target = std::unique_ptr<TargetMachine>(TheTarget->createTargetMachine(
         TheTriple, SkipModuleCPU, FeaturesStr, Options, RM, CM, OLvl));
-    assert(Target && "Could not allocate target machine!");
+    if (!Target) {
+      WithColor::error(errs(), argv[0])
+          << "could not allocate target machine\n";
+      return 1;
+    }
 
     // If we don't have a module then just exit now. We do this down
     // here since the CPU/Feature help is underneath the target machine
@@ -646,7 +650,11 @@ static int compileModule(char **argv, SmallVectorImpl<PassPlugin> &PluginList,
     InitializeOptions(TheTriple);
     Target = std::unique_ptr<TargetMachine>(TheTarget->createTargetMachine(
         TheTriple, CPUStr, FeaturesStr, Options, RM, CM, OLvl));
-    assert(Target && "Could not allocate target machine!");
+    if (!Target) {
+      WithColor::error(errs(), argv[0])
+          << "could not allocate target machine\n";
+      exit(1);
+    }
 
     // Set PGO options based on command line flags
     setPGOOptions(*Target);