diff --git a/pkg/codec/vpx/vpx_decoder.go b/pkg/codec/vpx/vpx_decoder.go
index 5407810..de015bb 100644
--- a/pkg/codec/vpx/vpx_decoder.go
+++ b/pkg/codec/vpx/vpx_decoder.go
@@ -86,15 +86,15 @@ func NewDecoder(p prop.Media) (Decoder, error) {
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func (d *Decoder) Decode(data []byte) {
+func (d *Decoder) Decode(data []byte) error {
 	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return
+		return fmt.Errorf("empty data")
 	}
 	status := C.decodeFrame(d.codec, (*C.uint8_t)(&data[0]), C.uint(len(data)))
 	if status != C.VPX_CODEC_OK {
-		fmt.Println("Decode failed", status)
-		panic("Decode failed")
+		return fmt.Errorf("Decode failed: %v", status)
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (d *Decoder) GetFrame() *VpxImage {
diff --git a/pkg/codec/vpx/vpx_test.go b/pkg/codec/vpx/vpx_test.go
index 7b36ca8..c744392 100644
--- a/pkg/codec/vpx/vpx_test.go
+++ b/pkg/codec/vpx/vpx_test.go
@@ -479,7 +479,10 @@ func TestVP8EncodeDecode(t *testing.T) {
 		defer rel()
 
 		// Decode the frame
-		decoder.Decode(data)
+		err = decoder.Decode(data)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
 
 		// Poll for frame with timeout
 		timeout := time.After(2 * time.Second)