diff --git a/path.go b/path.go
index df05000..f49dde1 100644
--- a/path.go
+++ b/path.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 // A Path represents an ipfs content path:
-//   * /<cid>/path/to/file
+//   * <cid>/path/to/file
 //   * /ipfs/<cid>
 //   * /ipns/<cid>/path/to/folder
 //   * etc
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ func ParsePath(txt string) (Path, error) {
 	}
 
 	if len(parts) < 3 {
-		return "", &pathError{error: fmt.Errorf("path does not begin with '/'"), path: txt}
+		return "", &pathError{error: fmt.Errorf("invalid ipfs path"), path: txt}
 	}
 
 	//TODO: make this smarter
diff --git a/path_test.go b/path_test.go
index 42cacdd..2b26a56 100644
--- a/path_test.go
+++ b/path_test.go
@@ -51,6 +51,19 @@ func TestNoComponents(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestInvalidPaths(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, s := range []string{
+		"/ipfs",
+		"/testfs",
+		"/",
+	} {
+		_, err := ParsePath(s)
+		if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "invalid ipfs path") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), s) {
+			t.Error("wrong error")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestIsJustAKey(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := map[string]bool{
 		"QmdfTbBqBPQ7VNxZEYEj14VmRuZBkqFbiwReogJgS1zR1n":           true,