diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/decoder_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/decoder_test.go
index 75269cfd..d71e8e8c 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/decoder_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/decoder_test.go
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ func mustProcessFormatScenario(s formatScenario, decoder Decoder, encoder Encode
 
 	result, err := processFormatScenario(s, decoder, encoder)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("Bad scenario %v: %w", s.description, err))
+		log.Error("Bad scenario %v: %w", s.description, err)
+		return fmt.Sprintf("Bad scenario %v: %v", s.description, err.Error())
 	}
 	return result