diff --git a/src/Variable.h b/src/Variable.h
index 75acf72..4ab4853 100644
--- a/src/Variable.h
+++ b/src/Variable.h
@@ -68,7 +68,13 @@ class variable {
         variable&operator=(std::nullptr_t) { r_value() = ""; data->_type = VARTYPE_NULL; return *this;}
 
         template <typename T>
-        T as() const { return typecast::variable_cast<T>(*this); }
+        T as() const {
+            try {
+                return typecast::variable_cast<T>(*this);
+            } catch(std::exception& ex) {
+                throw std::invalid_argument{"failed to parse " + this->r_key() + " as " + typeid(T).name() + " (" + ex.what() + ")"};
+            }
+        }
         std::string string() const { return as<std::string>(); } //fast
 
         template <typename T> //TODO more secure and not just try and fail