diff --git a/bench_test.go b/bench_test.go
index 80d332e5..1264b65e 100644
--- a/bench_test.go
+++ b/bench_test.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package pgx_test
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"github.com/JackC/pgx"
 	"math/rand"
 	"testing"
@@ -22,7 +21,7 @@ func createNarrowTestData(b *testing.B, conn *pgx.Connection) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if _, err := conn.Execute(`
+	mustExecute(b, conn, `
 		drop table if exists narrow;
 
 		create table narrow(
@@ -38,9 +37,7 @@ func createNarrowTestData(b *testing.B, conn *pgx.Connection) {
 		from generate_series(1, 10000);
 
 		analyze narrow;
-	`); err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Unable to create narrow test data: %v", err))
-	}
+	`)
 
 	mustPrepare(b, conn, "getNarrowById", "select * from narrow where id=$1")
 	mustPrepare(b, conn, "getMultipleNarrowById", "select * from narrow where id between $1 and $2")
@@ -64,7 +61,7 @@ func restoreBinaryEncoders(encoders map[pgx.Oid]func(*pgx.MessageReader, int32)
 }
 
 func BenchmarkSelectRowSimpleNarrow(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createNarrowTestData(b, conn)
 
 	// Get random ids outside of timing
@@ -80,7 +77,7 @@ func BenchmarkSelectRowSimpleNarrow(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkSelectRowPreparedNarrow(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createNarrowTestData(b, conn)
 
 	// Get random ids outside of timing
@@ -96,7 +93,7 @@ func BenchmarkSelectRowPreparedNarrow(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkSelectRowsSimpleNarrow(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createNarrowTestData(b, conn)
 
 	// Get random ids outside of timing
@@ -112,7 +109,7 @@ func BenchmarkSelectRowsSimpleNarrow(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkSelectRowsPreparedNarrow(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createNarrowTestData(b, conn)
 
 	// Get random ids outside of timing
@@ -199,7 +196,7 @@ func createJoinsTestData(b *testing.B, conn *pgx.Connection) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkSelectRowsSimpleJoins(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createJoinsTestData(b, conn)
 
 	sql := `
@@ -219,7 +216,7 @@ func BenchmarkSelectRowsSimpleJoins(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkSelectRowsPreparedJoins(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createJoinsTestData(b, conn)
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
@@ -254,7 +251,7 @@ func createInt2TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *pgx.Connection) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkInt2Text(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createInt2TextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 
 	encoders := removeBinaryEncoders()
@@ -270,7 +267,7 @@ func BenchmarkInt2Text(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkInt2Binary(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createInt2TextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 	mustPrepare(b, conn, "selectInt16", "select * from t")
 	defer func() { conn.Deallocate("selectInt16") }()
@@ -307,7 +304,7 @@ func createInt4TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *pgx.Connection) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkInt4Text(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createInt4TextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 
 	encoders := removeBinaryEncoders()
@@ -323,7 +320,7 @@ func BenchmarkInt4Text(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkInt4Binary(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createInt4TextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 	mustPrepare(b, conn, "selectInt32", "select * from t")
 	defer func() { conn.Deallocate("selectInt32") }()
@@ -360,7 +357,7 @@ func createInt8TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *pgx.Connection) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkInt8Text(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createInt8TextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 
 	encoders := removeBinaryEncoders()
@@ -376,7 +373,7 @@ func BenchmarkInt8Text(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkInt8Binary(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createInt8TextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 	mustPrepare(b, conn, "selectInt64", "select * from t")
 	defer func() { conn.Deallocate("selectInt64") }()
@@ -413,7 +410,7 @@ func createFloat4TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *pgx.Connection) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkFloat4Text(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createFloat4TextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 
 	encoders := removeBinaryEncoders()
@@ -429,7 +426,7 @@ func BenchmarkFloat4Text(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkFloat4Binary(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createFloat4TextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 	mustPrepare(b, conn, "selectFloat32", "select * from t")
 	defer func() { conn.Deallocate("selectFloat32") }()
@@ -466,7 +463,7 @@ func createFloat8TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *pgx.Connection) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkFloat8Text(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createFloat8TextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 
 	encoders := removeBinaryEncoders()
@@ -482,7 +479,7 @@ func BenchmarkFloat8Text(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkFloat8Binary(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createFloat8TextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 	mustPrepare(b, conn, "selectFloat32", "select * from t")
 	defer func() { conn.Deallocate("selectFloat32") }()
@@ -519,7 +516,7 @@ func createBoolTextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *pgx.Connection) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkBoolText(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createBoolTextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 
 	encoders := removeBinaryEncoders()
@@ -535,7 +532,7 @@ func BenchmarkBoolText(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkBoolBinary(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createBoolTextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 	mustPrepare(b, conn, "selectBool", "select * from t")
 	defer func() { conn.Deallocate("selectBool") }()
@@ -576,7 +573,7 @@ func createTimestampTzTextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *pgx.Connection) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkTimestampTzText(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createTimestampTzTextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 
 	encoders := removeBinaryEncoders()
@@ -592,7 +589,7 @@ func BenchmarkTimestampTzText(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkTimestampTzBinary(b *testing.B) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(b)
 	createTimestampTzTextVsBinaryTestData(b, conn)
 	mustPrepare(b, conn, "selectTimestampTz", "select * from t")
 	defer func() { conn.Deallocate("selectTimestampTz") }()
diff --git a/connection.go b/connection.go
index 2c824809..750e01e9 100644
--- a/connection.go
+++ b/connection.go
@@ -73,6 +73,12 @@ func (e UnexpectedColumnCountError) Error() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("Expected result to have %d column(s), instead it has %d", e.ExpectedCount, e.ActualCount)
 }
 
+type ProtocolError string
+
+func (e ProtocolError) Error() string {
+	return string(e)
+}
+
 // sharedBufferSize is the default number of bytes of work buffer per connection
 const sharedBufferSize = 1024
 
@@ -171,7 +177,11 @@ func (c *Connection) SelectFunc(sql string, onDataRow func(*DataRowReader) error
 				fields = c.rxRowDescription(r)
 			case dataRow:
 				if err == nil {
-					err = onDataRow(newDataRowReader(r, fields))
+					var drr *DataRowReader
+					drr, err = newDataRowReader(r, fields)
+					if err == nil {
+						err = onDataRow(drr)
+					}
 				}
 			case commandComplete:
 			case bindComplete:
@@ -393,7 +403,10 @@ func (c *Connection) sendQuery(sql string, arguments ...interface{}) (err error)
 
 func (c *Connection) sendSimpleQuery(sql string, arguments ...interface{}) (err error) {
 	if len(arguments) > 0 {
-		sql = c.SanitizeSql(sql, arguments...)
+		sql, err = c.SanitizeSql(sql, arguments...)
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
 	}
 
 	buf := c.getBuf()
diff --git a/connection_pool_test.go b/connection_pool_test.go
index a030c98e..ace28259 100644
--- a/connection_pool_test.go
+++ b/connection_pool_test.go
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
-func createConnectionPool(maxConnections int) *pgx.ConnectionPool {
+func createConnectionPool(t *testing.T, maxConnections int) *pgx.ConnectionPool {
 	pool, err := pgx.NewConnectionPool(*defaultConnectionParameters, maxConnections)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic("Unable to create connection pool")
+		t.Fatalf("Unable to create connection pool: %v", err)
 	}
 	return pool
 }
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func TestPoolAcquireAndReleaseCycle(t *testing.T) {
 	maxConnections := 2
 	incrementCount := int32(100)
 	completeSync := make(chan int)
-	pool := createConnectionPool(maxConnections)
+	pool := createConnectionPool(t, maxConnections)
 	defer pool.Close()
 
 	acquireAll := func() (connections []*pgx.Connection) {
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func TestPoolAcquireAndReleaseCycle(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPoolReleaseWithTransactions(t *testing.T) {
-	pool := createConnectionPool(1)
+	pool := createConnectionPool(t, 1)
 	defer pool.Close()
 
 	var err error
diff --git a/connection_test.go b/connection_test.go
index 486abe5c..d9844768 100644
--- a/connection_test.go
+++ b/connection_test.go
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func TestConnectWithMD5Password(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestExecute(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
 	if results := mustExecute(t, conn, "create temporary table foo(id integer primary key);"); results != "CREATE TABLE" {
 		t.Error("Unexpected results from Execute")
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ func TestExecuteFailure(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSelectFunc(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
 	var sum, rowCount int32
 	onDataRow := func(r *pgx.DataRowReader) error {
@@ -206,14 +206,18 @@ func TestSelectFuncFailure(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func Example_connectionSelectFunc() {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn, err := pgx.Connect(*defaultConnectionParameters)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("Unable to establish connection: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
 
 	onDataRow := func(r *pgx.DataRowReader) error {
 		fmt.Println(r.ReadValue())
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	err := conn.SelectFunc("select generate_series(1,$1)", onDataRow, 5)
+	err = conn.SelectFunc("select generate_series(1,$1)", onDataRow, 5)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println(err)
 	}
@@ -226,7 +230,7 @@ func Example_connectionSelectFunc() {
 }
 
 func TestSelectRows(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
 	rows := mustSelectRows(t, conn, "select $1 as name, null as position", "Jack")
 
@@ -248,7 +252,7 @@ func TestSelectRows(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSelectRow(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
 	row := mustSelectRow(t, conn, "select $1 as name, null as position", "Jack")
 	if row["name"] != "Jack" {
@@ -275,7 +279,7 @@ func TestSelectRow(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestConnectionSelectValue(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
 	test := func(sql string, expected interface{}, arguments ...interface{}) {
 		v, err := conn.SelectValue(sql, arguments...)
@@ -315,7 +319,7 @@ func TestConnectionSelectValue(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSelectValues(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
 	test := func(sql string, expected []interface{}, arguments ...interface{}) {
 		values, err := conn.SelectValues(sql, arguments...)
@@ -406,7 +410,9 @@ func TestPrepare(t *testing.T) {
 	bytea[2] = 255 // 0xFF
 	bytea[3] = 17  // 0x11
 
-	if conn.SanitizeSql("select $1", bytea) != `select E'\\x000fff11'` {
+	if sql, err := conn.SanitizeSql("select $1", bytea); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error sanitizing []byte: %v", err)
+	} else if sql != `select E'\\x000fff11'` {
 		t.Error("Failed to sanitize []byte")
 	}
 	var result interface{}
@@ -579,7 +585,7 @@ func TestListenNotify(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Unable to start listening: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	notifier := getSharedConnection()
+	notifier := getSharedConnection(t)
 	mustExecute(t, notifier, "notify chat")
 
 	// when notification is waiting on the socket to be read
diff --git a/data_row_reader.go b/data_row_reader.go
index 1e6f199f..32cbcbc3 100644
--- a/data_row_reader.go
+++ b/data_row_reader.go
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 package pgx
 
+import (
+	"fmt"
+)
+
 // DataRowReader is used by SelectFunc to process incoming rows.
 type DataRowReader struct {
 	mr              *MessageReader
@@ -7,14 +11,14 @@ type DataRowReader struct {
 	currentFieldIdx int
 }
 
-func newDataRowReader(mr *MessageReader, fields []FieldDescription) (r *DataRowReader) {
+func newDataRowReader(mr *MessageReader, fields []FieldDescription) (r *DataRowReader, err error) {
 	r = new(DataRowReader)
 	r.mr = mr
 	r.fields = fields
 
 	fieldCount := int(mr.ReadInt16())
 	if fieldCount != len(fields) {
-		panic("Row description field count and data row field count do not match")
+		return nil, ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Row description field count (%v) and data row field count (%v) do not match", len(fields), fieldCount))
 	}
 
 	return
@@ -34,7 +38,7 @@ func (r *DataRowReader) ReadValue() interface{} {
 			case 1:
 				return vt.DecodeBinary(r.mr, size)
 			default:
-				panic("Unknown format")
+				return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Unknown field description format code: %v", fieldDescription.FormatCode))
 			}
 		} else {
 			return r.mr.ReadString(size)
diff --git a/data_row_reader_test.go b/data_row_reader_test.go
index 25b0ce38..35980624 100644
--- a/data_row_reader_test.go
+++ b/data_row_reader_test.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestDataRowReaderReadValue(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
 	test := func(sql string, expected interface{}) {
 		var v interface{}
diff --git a/example_value_transcoder_test.go b/example_value_transcoder_test.go
index 662c2658..c4e23575 100644
--- a/example_value_transcoder_test.go
+++ b/example_value_transcoder_test.go
@@ -23,7 +23,11 @@ func Example_customValueTranscoder() {
 		DecodeText: decodePointFromText,
 		EncodeTo:   encodePoint}
 
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn, err := pgx.Connect(*defaultConnectionParameters)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("Unable to establish connection: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
 
 	v, _ := conn.SelectValue("select point(1.5,2.5)")
 	fmt.Println(v)
@@ -35,18 +39,18 @@ func decodePointFromText(mr *pgx.MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	s := mr.ReadString(size)
 	match := pointRegexp.FindStringSubmatch(s)
 	if match == nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid point: %v", s))
+		return pgx.ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid point: %v", s))
 	}
 
 	var err error
 	var p Point
 	p.x, err = strconv.ParseFloat(match[1], 64)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid point: %v", s))
+		return pgx.ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid point: %v", s))
 	}
 	p.y, err = strconv.ParseFloat(match[2], 64)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid point: %v", s))
+		return pgx.ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid point: %v", s))
 	}
 	return p
 }
diff --git a/helper_test.go b/helper_test.go
index fed4dc39..8fca4223 100644
--- a/helper_test.go
+++ b/helper_test.go
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ type test interface {
 
 var sharedConnection *pgx.Connection
 
-func getSharedConnection() (c *pgx.Connection) {
+func getSharedConnection(t test) (c *pgx.Connection) {
 	if sharedConnection == nil {
 		var err error
 		sharedConnection, err = pgx.Connect(*defaultConnectionParameters)
 		if err != nil {
-			panic("Unable to establish connection")
+			t.Fatalf("Unable to establish connection: %v", err)
 		}
 
 	}
diff --git a/sanitize.go b/sanitize.go
index f5ac49dc..7a07352f 100644
--- a/sanitize.go
+++ b/sanitize.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package pgx
 
 import (
 	"encoding/hex"
-	"reflect"
+	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func (c *Connection) QuoteIdentifier(input string) (output string) {
 // SanitizeSql substitutely args positionaly into sql. Placeholder values are
 // $ prefixed integers like $1, $2, $3, etc. args are sanitized and quoted as
 // appropriate.
-func (c *Connection) SanitizeSql(sql string, args ...interface{}) (output string) {
+func (c *Connection) SanitizeSql(sql string, args ...interface{}) (output string, err error) {
 	replacer := func(match string) (replacement string) {
 		n, _ := strconv.ParseInt(match[1:], 10, 0)
 		switch arg := args[n-1].(type) {
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ func (c *Connection) SanitizeSql(sql string, args ...interface{}) (output string
 		case []byte:
 			return `E'\\x` + hex.EncodeToString(arg) + `'`
 		default:
-			panic("Unable to sanitize type: " + reflect.TypeOf(arg).String())
+			err = fmt.Errorf("Unable to sanitize type: %T", arg)
+			return ""
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/sanitize_test.go b/sanitize_test.go
index 36123091..1bd18270 100644
--- a/sanitize_test.go
+++ b/sanitize_test.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestQuoteString(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
 	if conn.QuoteString("test") != "'test'" {
 		t.Error("Failed to quote string")
@@ -17,22 +17,22 @@ func TestQuoteString(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSanitizeSql(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
-	if conn.SanitizeSql("select $1", "Jack's") != "select 'Jack''s'" {
-		t.Error("Failed to sanitize string")
+	if san, err := conn.SanitizeSql("select $1", "Jack's"); err != nil || san != "select 'Jack''s'" {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to sanitize string: %v - %v", san, err)
 	}
 
-	if conn.SanitizeSql("select $1", 42) != "select 42" {
-		t.Error("Failed to pass through integer")
+	if san, err := conn.SanitizeSql("select $1", 42); err != nil || san != "select 42" {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to pass through integer: %v - %v", san, err)
 	}
 
-	if conn.SanitizeSql("select $1", 1.23) != "select 1.23" {
-		t.Error("Failed to pass through float")
+	if san, err := conn.SanitizeSql("select $1", 1.23); err != nil || san != "select 1.23" {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to pass through float: %v - %v", san, err)
 	}
 
-	if conn.SanitizeSql("select $1, $2, $3", "Jack's", 42, 1.23) != "select 'Jack''s', 42, 1.23" {
-		t.Error("Failed to sanitize multiple params")
+	if san, err := conn.SanitizeSql("select $1, $2, $3", "Jack's", 42, 1.23); err != nil || san != "select 'Jack''s', 42, 1.23" {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to sanitize multiple params: %v - %v", san, err)
 	}
 
 	bytea := make([]byte, 4)
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func TestSanitizeSql(t *testing.T) {
 	bytea[2] = 255 // 0xFF
 	bytea[3] = 17  // 0x11
 
-	if conn.SanitizeSql("select $1", bytea) != `select E'\\x000fff11'` {
-		t.Error("Failed to sanitize []byte")
+	if san, err := conn.SanitizeSql("select $1", bytea); err != nil || san != `select E'\\x000fff11'` {
+		t.Errorf("Failed to sanitize []byte: %v - %v", san, err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/value_transcoder.go b/value_transcoder.go
index e990774b..2a16184a 100644
--- a/value_transcoder.go
+++ b/value_transcoder.go
@@ -112,13 +112,13 @@ func decodeBoolFromText(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	case "f":
 		return false
 	default:
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid bool: %v", s))
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid bool: %v", s))
 	}
 }
 
 func decodeBoolFromBinary(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	if size != 1 {
-		panic("Received an invalid size for an bool")
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received an invalid size for an bool: %d", size))
 	}
 	b := mr.ReadByte()
 	return b != 0
@@ -138,14 +138,14 @@ func decodeInt8FromText(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	s := mr.ReadString(size)
 	n, err := strconv.ParseInt(s, 10, 64)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid int8: %v", s))
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid int8: %v", s))
 	}
 	return n
 }
 
 func decodeInt8FromBinary(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	if size != 8 {
-		panic("Received an invalid size for an int8")
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received an invalid size for an int8: %d", size))
 	}
 	return mr.ReadInt64()
 }
@@ -160,14 +160,14 @@ func decodeInt2FromText(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	s := mr.ReadString(size)
 	n, err := strconv.ParseInt(s, 10, 16)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid int2: %v", s))
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid int2: %v", s))
 	}
 	return int16(n)
 }
 
 func decodeInt2FromBinary(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	if size != 2 {
-		panic("Received an invalid size for an int8")
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received an invalid size for an int2: %d", size))
 	}
 	return mr.ReadInt16()
 }
@@ -182,14 +182,14 @@ func decodeInt4FromText(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	s := mr.ReadString(size)
 	n, err := strconv.ParseInt(s, 10, 32)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid int4: %v", s))
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid int4: %v", s))
 	}
 	return int32(n)
 }
 
 func decodeInt4FromBinary(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	if size != 4 {
-		panic("Received an invalid size for an int4")
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received an invalid size for an int4: %d", size))
 	}
 	return mr.ReadInt32()
 }
@@ -204,14 +204,14 @@ func decodeFloat4FromText(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	s := mr.ReadString(size)
 	n, err := strconv.ParseFloat(s, 32)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid float4: %v", s))
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid float4: %v", s))
 	}
 	return float32(n)
 }
 
 func decodeFloat4FromBinary(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	if size != 4 {
-		panic("Received an invalid size for an float4")
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received an invalid size for an float4: %d", size))
 	}
 
 	i := mr.ReadInt32()
@@ -229,14 +229,14 @@ func decodeFloat8FromText(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	s := mr.ReadString(size)
 	v, err := strconv.ParseFloat(s, 64)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid float8: %v", s))
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received invalid float8: %v", s))
 	}
 	return v
 }
 
 func decodeFloat8FromBinary(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	if size != 8 {
-		panic("Received an invalid size for an float4")
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received an invalid size for an float8: %d", size))
 	}
 
 	i := mr.ReadInt64()
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ func decodeByteaFromText(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	s := mr.ReadString(size)
 	b, err := hex.DecodeString(s[2:])
 	if err != nil {
-		panic("Can't decode byte array")
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Can't decode byte array: %v - %v", err, s))
 	}
 	return b
 }
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ func decodeDateFromText(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	s := mr.ReadString(size)
 	t, err := time.ParseInLocation("2006-01-02", s, time.Local)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic("Can't decode date")
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Can't decode date: %v", s))
 	}
 	return t
 }
@@ -295,14 +295,14 @@ func decodeTimestampTzFromText(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	s := mr.ReadString(size)
 	t, err := time.Parse("2006-01-02 15:04:05.999999-07", s)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Can't decode timestamptz: %v", err))
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Can't decode timestamptz: %v - %v", err, s))
 	}
 	return t
 }
 
 func decodeTimestampTzFromBinary(mr *MessageReader, size int32) interface{} {
 	if size != 8 {
-		panic("Received an invalid size for an int8")
+		return ProtocolError(fmt.Sprintf("Received an invalid size for an int8: %d", size))
 	}
 	microsecFromUnixEpochToY2K := int64(946684800 * 1000000)
 	microsecSinceY2K := mr.ReadInt64()
diff --git a/value_transcoder_test.go b/value_transcoder_test.go
index c52307ab..0d0227a4 100644
--- a/value_transcoder_test.go
+++ b/value_transcoder_test.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestDateTranscode(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
 	actualDate := time.Date(2013, 1, 2, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.Local)
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func TestDateTranscode(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestTimestampTzTranscode(t *testing.T) {
-	conn := getSharedConnection()
+	conn := getSharedConnection(t)
 
 	inputTime := time.Date(2013, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6000, time.Local)