diff --git a/lib/bcoin/bip70/pk.js b/lib/bcoin/bip70/pk.js
index 0c2b78cb..8f30d62c 100644
--- a/lib/bcoin/bip70/pk.js
+++ b/lib/bcoin/bip70/pk.js
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ pk._verify = function verify(hash, msg, sig, key) {
       return rsa.verify(hash, msg, sig, key.data);
     case 'ecdsa':
       if (!key.curve)
-        return false;
+        throw new Error('No curve present.');
       return ecdsa.verify(key.curve, hash, msg, sig, key.data);
     default:
       throw new Error('Unsupported algorithm.');
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ pk.sign = function sign(hash, msg, key) {
       return rsa.sign(hash, msg, key.data);
     case 'ecdsa':
       if (!key.curve)
-        return false;
+        throw new Error('No curve present.');
       return ecdsa.sign(key.curve, hash, msg, key.data);
     default:
       throw new Error('Unsupported algorithm.');