diff --git a/accounts/abi/unpack.go b/accounts/abi/unpack.go
index 8e12abcbc3..dc6c9e2ff2 100644
--- a/accounts/abi/unpack.go
+++ b/accounts/abi/unpack.go
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ func readInteger(kind reflect.Kind, b []byte) interface{} {
 
 func readBool(word []byte) (bool, error) {
 	if len(word) != 32 {
-		panic("abi: fatal error: incorrect word length")
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("abi: fatal error: incorrect word length")
 	}
 	improperEncoding := "abi: improperly encoded boolean value"
 	for i, b := range word {