diff --git a/lib/publickey.js b/lib/publickey.js
index 1ab0ba0..dd72e60 100644
--- a/lib/publickey.js
+++ b/lib/publickey.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ var PublicKey = function PublicKey(data, extra) {
     return new PublicKey(data, extra);
   }
 
-  $.checkArgument(data, new TypeError('First argument is required, please include public key data.'));
+  $.checkArgument(data, 'First argument is required, please include public key data.');
 
   if (data instanceof PublicKey) {
     // Return copy, but as it's an immutable object, return same argument
@@ -134,8 +134,7 @@ PublicKey._isJSON = function(json) {
  * @private
  */
 PublicKey._transformPrivateKey = function(privkey) {
-  $.checkArgument(PublicKey._isPrivateKey(privkey),
-    new TypeError('Must be an instance of PrivateKey'));
+  $.checkArgument(PublicKey._isPrivateKey(privkey), 'Must be an instance of PrivateKey');
   var info = {};
   info.point = Point.getG().mul(privkey.bn);
   info.compressed = privkey.compressed;
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ PublicKey._transformPrivateKey = function(privkey) {
 PublicKey._transformDER = function(buf, strict) {
   /* jshint maxstatements: 30 */
   /* jshint maxcomplexity: 12 */
-  $.checkArgument(PublicKey._isBuffer(buf), new TypeError('Must be a hex buffer of DER encoded public key'));
+  $.checkArgument(PublicKey._isBuffer(buf), 'Must be a hex buffer of DER encoded public key');
   var info = {};
 
   strict = _.isUndefined(strict) ? true : strict;
@@ -199,8 +198,7 @@ PublicKey._transformDER = function(buf, strict) {
  * @private
  */
 PublicKey._transformX = function(odd, x) {
-  $.checkArgument(typeof odd === 'boolean',
-    new TypeError('Must specify whether y is odd or not (true or false)'));
+  $.checkArgument(typeof odd === 'boolean', 'Must specify whether y is odd or not (true or false)');
   var info = {};
   info.point = Point.fromX(odd, x);
   return info;
@@ -213,8 +211,7 @@ PublicKey._transformX = function(odd, x) {
  * @returns {PublicKey} A new valid instance of PublicKey
  */
 PublicKey.fromJSON = function(json) {
-  $.checkArgument(PublicKey._isJSON(json),
-    new TypeError('Must be a valid JSON string or plain object'));
+  $.checkArgument(PublicKey._isJSON(json), 'Must be a valid JSON string or plain object');
   return new PublicKey(json);
 };
 
@@ -244,7 +241,7 @@ PublicKey._transformJSON = function(json) {
  * @returns {PublicKey} A new valid instance of PublicKey
  */
 PublicKey.fromPrivateKey = function(privkey) {
-  $.checkArgument(PublicKey._isPrivateKey(privkey), new TypeError('Must be an instance of PrivateKey'));
+  $.checkArgument(PublicKey._isPrivateKey(privkey), 'Must be an instance of PrivateKey');
   var info = PublicKey._transformPrivateKey(privkey);
   return new PublicKey(info.point, {
     compressed: info.compressed,
@@ -259,8 +256,7 @@ PublicKey.fromPrivateKey = function(privkey) {
  * @returns {PublicKey} A new valid instance of PublicKey
  */
 PublicKey.fromDER = PublicKey.fromBuffer = function(buf, strict) {
-  $.checkArgument(PublicKey._isBuffer(buf),
-    new TypeError('Must be a hex buffer of DER encoded public key'));
+  $.checkArgument(PublicKey._isBuffer(buf), 'Must be a hex buffer of DER encoded public key');
   var info = PublicKey._transformDER(buf, strict);
   return new PublicKey(info.point, {
     compressed: info.compressed
@@ -275,8 +271,7 @@ PublicKey.fromDER = PublicKey.fromBuffer = function(buf, strict) {
  * @returns {PublicKey} A new valid instance of PublicKey
  */
 PublicKey.fromPoint = function(point, compressed) {
-  $.checkArgument(point instanceof Point,
-    new TypeError('First argument must be an instance of Point.'));
+  $.checkArgument(point instanceof Point, 'First argument must be an instance of Point.');
   return new PublicKey(point, {
     compressed: compressed
   });