diff --git a/lib/bcoin/utils.js b/lib/bcoin/utils.js
index a4e3d57a..063b5765 100644
--- a/lib/bcoin/utils.js
+++ b/lib/bcoin/utils.js
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ utils.fromBase58 = function fromBase58(str) {
   for (; i < str.length; i++) {
     ch = unbase58[str[i]];
     if (ch == null)
-      return new Buffer([]);
+      throw new Error('Non-base58 character.');
 
     carry = ch;
     for (j = b256.length - 1; j >= 0; j--) {