diff --git a/utils/general.py b/utils/general.py
index bc978ea221f3..ba6d9e165901 100755
--- a/utils/general.py
+++ b/utils/general.py
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ def check_version(current='0.0.0', minimum='0.0.0', name='version ', pinned=Fals
     result = (current == minimum) if pinned else (current >= minimum)  # bool
     s = f'WARNING: ⚠️ {name}{minimum} is required by YOLOv5, but {name}{current} is currently installed'  # string
     if hard:
-        assert result, s  # assert min requirements met
+        assert result, emojis(s)  # assert min requirements met
     if verbose and not result:
         LOGGER.warning(s)
     return result