diff --git a/index.go b/index.go
index 903d65d..65ff750 100644
--- a/index.go
+++ b/index.go
@@ -26,8 +26,12 @@ func (m *Multiaddr) Equal(m2 *Multiaddr) bool {
 }
 
 // String returns the string representation of a Multiaddr
-func (m *Multiaddr) String() (string, error) {
-	return bytesToString(m.Bytes)
+func (m *Multiaddr) String() string {
+	s, err := bytesToString(m.Bytes)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic("multiaddr failed to convert back to string. corrupted?")
+	}
+	return s
 }
 
 // Protocols returns the list of protocols this Multiaddr has.
@@ -63,16 +67,8 @@ func (m *Multiaddr) Encapsulate(o *Multiaddr) *Multiaddr {
 
 // Decapsulate unwraps Multiaddr up until the given Multiaddr is found.
 func (m *Multiaddr) Decapsulate(o *Multiaddr) (*Multiaddr, error) {
-	s1, err := m.String()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	s2, err := o.String()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
+	s1 := m.String()
+	s2 := o.String()
 	i := strings.LastIndex(s1, s2)
 	if i < 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s not contained in %s", s2, s1)
@@ -86,11 +82,7 @@ func (m *Multiaddr) DialArgs() (string, string, error) {
 		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("%s is not a 'thin waist' address", m)
 	}
 
-	str, err := m.String()
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", "", err
-	}
-
+	str := m.String()
 	parts := strings.Split(str, "/")[1:]
 	network := parts[2]
 
diff --git a/multiaddr_test.go b/multiaddr_test.go
index 7bc2e92..5de5aaa 100644
--- a/multiaddr_test.go
+++ b/multiaddr_test.go
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func TestEncapsulate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	b := m.Encapsulate(m2)
-	if s, _ := b.String(); s != "/ip4/127.0.0.1/udp/1234/udp/5678" {
+	if s := b.String(); s != "/ip4/127.0.0.1/udp/1234/udp/5678" {
 		t.Error("encapsulate /ip4/127.0.0.1/udp/1234/udp/5678 failed.", s)
 	}
 
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func TestEncapsulate(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("decapsulate /udp failed.", err)
 	}
 
-	if s, _ := c.String(); s != "/ip4/127.0.0.1/udp/1234" {
+	if s := c.String(); s != "/ip4/127.0.0.1/udp/1234" {
 		t.Error("decapsulate /udp failed.", "/ip4/127.0.0.1/udp/1234", s)
 	}
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func TestEncapsulate(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("decapsulate /ip4 failed.", err)
 	}
 
-	if s, _ := d.String(); s != "" {
+	if s := d.String(); s != "" {
 		t.Error("decapsulate /ip4 failed.", "/", s)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/net_test.go b/net_test.go
index fd1ede1..f734b28 100644
--- a/net_test.go
+++ b/net_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ func testConvert(t *testing.T, s string, gen GenFunc) {
 		t.Fatal("failed to generate.")
 	}
 
-	if s2, _ := m.String(); err != nil || s2 != s {
+	if s2 := m.String(); err != nil || s2 != s {
 		t.Fatal("failed to convert: " + s + " != " + s2)
 	}
 }