diff --git a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/SerializationUtil.java b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/SerializationUtil.java
index 1fd71bb..5be4092 100644
--- a/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/SerializationUtil.java
+++ b/src/main/java/wtf/beatrice/hidekobot/util/SerializationUtil.java
@@ -18,8 +18,9 @@ public class SerializationUtil
             so.flush();
             return Base64.getEncoder().encodeToString(bo.toByteArray());
         }
-        catch (IOException ignored) {}
-        return null;
+        catch (IOException e) {
+            throw new SerializationException("Error during serialization", e);
+        }
     }
 
     public static LinkedList deserializeBase64(String dataStr) {