diff --git a/crown/src/nockapp/mod.rs b/crown/src/nockapp/mod.rs
index 05c2204..87b0a62 100644
--- a/crown/src/nockapp/mod.rs
+++ b/crown/src/nockapp/mod.rs
@@ -272,6 +272,9 @@ pub struct NockAppHandle {
 
 impl NockAppHandle {
     pub async fn poke(&self, poke: NounSlab) -> Result<PokeResult, NockAppError> {
+        if let Err(e) = poke.validate_root() {
+            panic!("Invalid poke noun: {}", e);
+        }
         let (ack_channel, ack_future) = oneshot::channel();
         self.io_sender
             .send(IOAction::Poke { poke, ack_channel })
@@ -280,6 +283,9 @@ impl NockAppHandle {
     }
 
     pub async fn peek(&self, path: NounSlab) -> Result<Option<NounSlab>, NockAppError> {
+        if let Err(e) = path.validate_root() {
+            panic!("Invalid peek path: {}", e);
+        }
         let (result_channel, result_future) = oneshot::channel();
         self.io_sender
             .send(IOAction::Peek {