diff --git a/errors.go b/errors.go
index d4b183c..662df19 100644
--- a/errors.go
+++ b/errors.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const (
 // Helper for constructing a ValidationError with a string error message
 func NewValidationError(errorText string, errorFlags uint32) *ValidationError {
 	return &ValidationError{
-		Inner:  errors.New(errorText),
+		text:   errorText,
 		Errors: errorFlags,
 	}
 }
@@ -39,11 +39,16 @@ func NewValidationError(errorText string, errorFlags uint32) *ValidationError {
 type ValidationError struct {
 	Inner  error  // stores the error returned by external dependencies, i.e.: KeyFunc
 	Errors uint32 // bitfield.  see ValidationError... constants
+	text   string // errors that do not have a valid error just have text
 }
 
 // Validation error is an error type
 func (e ValidationError) Error() string {
-	if e.Inner == nil {
+	if e.Inner != nil {
+		return e.Inner.Error()
+	} else if e.text != "" {
+		return e.text
+	} else {
 		return "token is invalid"
 	}
 	return e.Inner.Error()