Relatively simple < the routine, not "Hurting your head"
>
Just replace the call to vla-item with k:AssertItem using the same parameters.
The routine will return either the Object related to 'item' or NIL.
.. bypassing the possible dummy-spit in the instance where the 'item' translation errors out.
added:
This could , of course, be written in line each time ... but I type slowly, so ...