diff --git a/internal_test.go b/internal_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bb470dcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+package btcnet
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestInvalidShaStr(t *testing.T) {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r == nil {
+			t.Errorf("Expected panic for invalid sha string, got nil")
+		}
+	}()
+	newShaHashFromStr("banana")
+}