diff --git a/broadcast/broadcastClient.go b/broadcast/broadcastClient.go
index 54555a3875db03af4331438e0dcb92922ad3aa06..b34740f7ed5de80f4e50cfc692d69bb65156630c 100644
--- a/broadcast/broadcastClient.go
+++ b/broadcast/broadcastClient.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func NewBroadcastChannel(channel crypto.Channel, listenerCb ListenerFunc, net Cl
 	}
 
 	if !bc.verifyID() {
-		jww.FATAL.Panicf("Failed ID verification for broadcast channel")
+		return nil, errors.New("Failed ID verification for broadcast channel")
 	}
 
 	// Add channel's identity