diff --git a/socket.cxx b/socket.cxx
index 3e0130a..16451d3 100644
--- a/socket.cxx
+++ b/socket.cxx
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ namespace xerxes
       } 
     else 
       {
-        throw validation_error("invalid value");
+        throw validation_error(validation_error::invalid_option_value);
       }        
   }