diff --git a/lib/postzord/receiver/private.rb b/lib/postzord/receiver/private.rb
index 4741b0ef5..ff66874f8 100644
--- a/lib/postzord/receiver/private.rb
+++ b/lib/postzord/receiver/private.rb
@@ -72,12 +72,12 @@ class Postzord::Receiver::Private < Postzord::Receiver
   end
 
   def validate_object
-    return false if contact_required_unless_request
-    return false if relayable_without_parent?
+    raise "Contact required unless request" if contact_required_unless_request
+    raise "Relayable object, but no parent object found" if relayable_without_parent?
 
     assign_sender_handle_if_request
 
-    return false if author_does_not_match_xml_author?
+    raise "Author does not match XML author" if author_does_not_match_xml_author?
 
     @object
   end
diff --git a/spec/integration/attack_vectors_spec.rb b/spec/integration/attack_vectors_spec.rb
index d65567e29..3c72fba0a 100644
--- a/spec/integration/attack_vectors_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/integration/attack_vectors_spec.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ describe "attack vectors" do
       zord = Postzord::Receiver::Private.new(bob, :salmon_xml => salmon_xml)
       expect {
         zord.perform!
-      }.should raise_error /not a valid object/
+      }.should raise_error /Contact required unless request/
 
       bob.visible_shareables(Post).include?(post_from_non_contact).should be_false
       Post.count.should == post_count
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ describe "attack vectors" do
     zord = Postzord::Receiver::Private.new(bob, :salmon_xml => salmon_xml)
     expect {
       zord.perform!
-    }.should raise_error /not a valid object/
+    }.should raise_error /Contact required unless request/
 
     alice.reload.visible_shareables(Post).should_not include(StatusMessage.find(original_message.id))
   end
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ describe "attack vectors" do
       zord = Postzord::Receiver::Private.new(bob, :salmon_xml => salmon_xml)
       expect {
         zord.perform!
-      }.should raise_error /not a valid object/
+      }.should raise_error /Author does not match XML author/
 
       eve.reload.profile.first_name.should == first_name
     end
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ describe "attack vectors" do
       zord = Postzord::Receiver::Private.new(bob, :salmon_xml => salmon_xml)
       expect {
         zord.perform!
-      }.should raise_error /not a valid object/
+      }.should raise_error /Author does not match XML author/
 
       bob.reload.visible_shareables(Post).count.should == 1
     end
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ describe "attack vectors" do
       zord = Postzord::Receiver::Private.new(bob, :salmon_xml => salmon_xml)
       expect {
         zord.perform!
-      }.should raise_error /not a valid object/
+      }.should raise_error /Author does not match XML author/
 
       bob.reload.contacts.count.should == 2
     end