diff --git a/detectron2/modeling/poolers.py b/detectron2/modeling/poolers.py
index 12073b0524..8d368e81ae 100644
--- a/detectron2/modeling/poolers.py
+++ b/detectron2/modeling/poolers.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 from detectron2.layers import ROIAlign, ROIAlignRotated, cat, nonzero_tuple, shapes_to_tensor
 from detectron2.structures import Boxes
-from detectron2.utils.tracing import assert_fx_safe
+from detectron2.utils.tracing import assert_fx_safe, assert_fx_safe_expr
 
 """
 To export ROIPooler to torchscript, in this file, variables that should be annotated with
@@ -220,8 +220,9 @@ def forward(self, x: List[torch.Tensor], box_lists: List[Boxes]):
         """
         num_level_assignments = len(self.level_poolers)
 
-        assert_fx_safe(
-            isinstance(x, list) and isinstance(box_lists, list), "Arguments to pooler must be lists"
+        assert_fx_safe_expr(
+            "isinstance(x, list) and isinstance(box_lists, list)",
+            "Arguments to pooler must be lists",
         )
         assert_fx_safe(
             len(x) == num_level_assignments,
diff --git a/detectron2/utils/tracing.py b/detectron2/utils/tracing.py
index 994b615a76..5d7c7b115a 100644
--- a/detectron2/utils/tracing.py
+++ b/detectron2/utils/tracing.py
@@ -1,11 +1,22 @@
 import inspect
-from typing import Union
 import torch
-from torch.fx._symbolic_trace import _orig_module_call
-from torch.fx._symbolic_trace import is_fx_tracing as is_fx_tracing_current
 
 from detectron2.utils.env import TORCH_VERSION
 
+try:
+    from torch.fx._symbolic_trace import is_fx_tracing as is_fx_tracing_current
+
+    tracing_current_exists = True
+except ImportError:
+    tracing_current_exists = False
+
+try:
+    from torch.fx._symbolic_trace import _orig_module_call
+
+    tracing_legacy_exists = True
+except ImportError:
+    tracing_legacy_exists = False
+
 
 @torch.jit.ignore
 def is_fx_tracing_legacy() -> bool:
@@ -20,14 +31,18 @@ def is_fx_tracing_legacy() -> bool:
 def is_fx_tracing() -> bool:
     """Returns whether execution is currently in
     Torch FX tracing mode"""
-    if TORCH_VERSION >= (1, 10):
+    if TORCH_VERSION >= (1, 10) and tracing_current_exists:
         return is_fx_tracing_current()
-    else:
+    elif tracing_legacy_exists:
         return is_fx_tracing_legacy()
+    else:
+        # Can't find either current or legacy tracing indication code.
+        # Enabling this assert_fx_safe() call regardless of tracing status.
+        return False
 
 
-@torch.jit.ignore
-def assert_fx_safe(condition: Union[bool, str], message: str):
+@torch.jit.ignore  # Remove and "try blocks aren't supported comes from torch.jit"
+def assert_fx_safe(condition: bool, message: str) -> None:
     """An FX-tracing safe version of assert.
     Avoids erroneous type assertion triggering when types are masked inside
     an fx.proxy.Proxy object during tracing.
@@ -49,3 +64,23 @@ def assert_fx_safe(condition: Union[bool, str], message: str):
                 "Found a non-FX compatible assertion. Skipping the check. Failure is shown below"
                 + str(e)
             )
+
+
+def assert_fx_safe_expr(condition: str, message: str) -> None:
+    if not is_fx_tracing():
+        try:
+            if isinstance(condition, str):
+                caller_frame = inspect.currentframe().f_back
+                torch._assert(
+                    eval(condition, caller_frame.f_globals, caller_frame.f_locals), message
+                )
+            else:
+                raise TypeError(
+                    "Expected a string condition argument. \
+                    Did you mean to use the bool-taking 'assert_fx_safe' instead?"
+                )
+        except torch.fx.proxy.TraceError as e:
+            print(
+                "Found a non-FX compatible assertion. Skipping the check. Failure is shown below"
+                + str(e)
+            )