diff --git a/src/address.js b/src/address.js
index 354dda8..9a010dd 100644
--- a/src/address.js
+++ b/src/address.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 var base58 = require('./base58')
 var base58check = require('./base58check')
 var convert = require('./convert')
-var error = require('./util').error
 var mainnet = require('./network').mainnet.addressVersion
 
 function Address(bytes, version) {
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ function Address(bytes, version) {
       this.version = version || mainnet
     }
     else {
-      error('invalid or unrecognized input')
+      throw new Error('Invalid or unrecognized input')
     }
   }
   else {
diff --git a/src/util.js b/src/util.js
index 9cbc541..6ec6d15 100644
--- a/src/util.js
+++ b/src/util.js
@@ -7,7 +7,3 @@ exports.sha256ripe160 = function (data) {
   var wordArray = RIPEMD160(SHA256(convert.bytesToWordArray(data)))
   return convert.wordArrayToBytes(wordArray)
 }
-
-exports.error = function (msg) {
-  throw new Error(msg)
-}