diff --git a/codec.go b/codec.go
index 0a8c660..3e056a9 100644
--- a/codec.go
+++ b/codec.go
@@ -31,7 +31,15 @@ func StringToBytes(s string) ([]byte, error) {
   return b, nil
 }
 
-func BytesToString(b []byte) (string, error) {
+func BytesToString(b []byte) (ret string, err error) {
+  // panic handler, in case we try accessing bytes incorrectly.
+  defer func() {
+    if e := recover(); e != nil {
+      ret = ""
+      err = e.(error)
+    }
+  }()
+
   s := ""
 
   for ; len(b) > 0 ; {
diff --git a/index.go b/index.go
index aaef5d3..b0165e1 100644
--- a/index.go
+++ b/index.go
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ type Multiaddr struct {
   Bytes []byte
 }
 
-func NewString(s string) *Multiaddr {
-  m := &Multiaddr{}
-  return m
+func NewString(s string) (*Multiaddr, error) {
+  b, err := StringToBytes(s)
+  if err != nil {
+    return nil, err
+  }
+  return &Multiaddr{Bytes: b}, nil
 }