diff --git a/packages/@ember/-internals/views/lib/system/event_dispatcher.ts b/packages/@ember/-internals/views/lib/system/event_dispatcher.ts
index db3512393fc..35cd930e1e4 100644
--- a/packages/@ember/-internals/views/lib/system/event_dispatcher.ts
+++ b/packages/@ember/-internals/views/lib/system/event_dispatcher.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { getOwner } from '@ember/-internals/owner';
-import { assert } from '@ember/debug';
+import { assert, warn } from '@ember/debug';
 import { get, set } from '@ember/-internals/metal';
 import EmberObject from '@ember/object';
 import { getElementView } from './utils';
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ export default class EventDispatcher extends EmberObject {
       `You cannot use the same root element (${specifiedRootElement}) multiple times in an Ember.Application`,
       !rootElement.classList.contains(ROOT_ELEMENT_CLASS)
     );
-    assert(
+    warn(
       'You cannot make a new Ember.Application using a root element that is a descendent of an existing Ember.Application',
       (() => {
         let target = rootElement.parentNode;
diff --git a/packages/@ember/application/tests/application_test.js b/packages/@ember/application/tests/application_test.js
index 89c708caab1..f1affda01da 100644
--- a/packages/@ember/application/tests/application_test.js
+++ b/packages/@ember/application/tests/application_test.js
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ moduleFor(
     }
 
     [`@test you cannot make a new application that is a descendant of an existing application`]() {
-      expectAssertion(() => {
+      expectWarning(() => {
         runTask(() =>
           this.createSecondApplication({
             rootElement: '#one-child',