diff --git a/mypy/nativeparse.py b/mypy/nativeparse.py
index d5af1c8c6ec8..d7e660b470ff 100644
--- a/mypy/nativeparse.py
+++ b/mypy/nativeparse.py
@@ -1579,7 +1579,14 @@ def read_expression(state: State, data: ReadBuffer) -> Expression:
     elif tag == nodes.ASSIGNMENT_EXPR:
         target = read_expression(state, data)
         value = read_expression(state, data)
-        assert isinstance(target, NameExpr), f"Expected NameExpr for target, got {type(target)}"
+        if not isinstance(target, NameExpr):
+            # The only valid target of ":=" is a plain name, but ruff's error
+            # recovery can produce other targets for invalid code such as
+            # "(f() := 1)". Ruff already reports a syntax error in this case, so
+            # here we just recover with a placeholder name instead of crashing.
+            placeholder = NameExpr("")
+            placeholder.set_line(target)
+            target = placeholder
         expr = AssignmentExpr(target, value)
         read_loc(data, expr)
         expect_end_tag(data)
diff --git a/test-data/unit/native-parser.test b/test-data/unit/native-parser.test
index abf653fc213c..5d78ad68545a 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/native-parser.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/native-parser.test
@@ -2572,6 +2572,16 @@ MypyFile:1(
     Block:3(
       PassStmt:3())))
 
+[case testSyntaxError10]
+(f() := 1)
+[out]
+1:2: error: Assignment expression target must be an identifier
+MypyFile:1(
+  ExpressionStmt:1(
+    AssignmentExpr:1(
+      NameExpr()
+      IntExpr(1))))
+
 [case testArgConstructorTooManyArgs]
 from typing import Callable
 from mypy_extensions import Arg