diff --git a/examples/force_mode_example.cpp b/examples/force_mode_example.cpp
index 454ccc85..1b275c24 100644
--- a/examples/force_mode_example.cpp
+++ b/examples/force_mode_example.cpp
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
                                           { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 },  // do not apply any active wrench
                                           2,                     // do not transform the force frame at all
                                           { 0.1, 0.1, 1.5, 3.14, 3.14, 0.5 },  // limits
-                                          0.025,                                 // damping_factor
+                                          0.025,                               // damping_factor
                                           0.8);  // gain_scaling. See ScriptManual for details.
   }
   if (!success)
diff --git a/src/ur/ur_driver.cpp b/src/ur/ur_driver.cpp
index 779251e9..77496ba8 100644
--- a/src/ur/ur_driver.cpp
+++ b/src/ur/ur_driver.cpp
@@ -361,8 +361,10 @@ bool UrDriver::startForceMode(const vector6d_t& task_frame, const vector6uint32_
 {
   if (robot_version_.major < 5)
   {
-    URCL_LOG_ERROR("Force mode gain scaling factor cannot be set on a CB3 robot.");
-    return false;
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss << "Force mode gain scaling factor cannot be set on a CB3 robot.";
+    URCL_LOG_ERROR(ss.str().c_str());
+    throw std::invalid_argument(ss.str().c_str());
   }
   // Test that the type is either 1, 2 or 3.
   switch (type)
@@ -383,21 +385,27 @@ bool UrDriver::startForceMode(const vector6d_t& task_frame, const vector6uint32_
   {
     if (selection_vector[i] > 1)
     {
-      URCL_LOG_ERROR("The selection vector should only consist of 0's and 1's");
-      return false;
+      std::stringstream ss;
+      ss << "The selection vector should only consist of 0's and 1's";
+      URCL_LOG_ERROR(ss.str().c_str());
+      throw std::invalid_argument(ss.str().c_str());
     }
   }
 
   if (damping_factor > 1 || damping_factor < 0)
   {
-    URCL_LOG_ERROR("The force mode damping factor should be between 0 and 1, both inclusive.");
-    return false;
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss << "The force mode damping factor should be between 0 and 1, both inclusive.";
+    URCL_LOG_ERROR(ss.str().c_str());
+    throw std::invalid_argument(ss.str().c_str());
   }
 
   if (gain_scaling_factor > 2 || gain_scaling_factor < 0)
   {
-    URCL_LOG_ERROR("The force mode gain scaling factor should be between 0 and 2, both inclusive.");
-    return false;
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss << "The force mode gain scaling factor should be between 0 and 2, both inclusive.";
+    URCL_LOG_ERROR(ss.str().c_str());
+    throw std::invalid_argument(ss.str().c_str());
   }
 
   if (script_command_interface_->clientConnected())
@@ -419,9 +427,10 @@ bool UrDriver::startForceMode(const vector6d_t& task_frame, const vector6uint32_
 {
   if (robot_version_.major >= 5)
   {
-    URCL_LOG_ERROR("You should also specify a force mode gain scaling factor to activate force mode on a e-series "
-                   "robot.");
-    return false;
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss << "You should also specify a force mode gain scaling factor to activate force mode on an e-series robot.";
+    URCL_LOG_ERROR(ss.str().c_str());
+    throw std::invalid_argument(ss.str().c_str());
   }
   // Test that the type is either 1, 2 or 3.
   switch (type)
@@ -442,15 +451,19 @@ bool UrDriver::startForceMode(const vector6d_t& task_frame, const vector6uint32_
   {
     if (selection_vector[i] > 1)
     {
-      URCL_LOG_ERROR("The selection vector should only consist of 0's and 1's");
-      return false;
+      std::stringstream ss;
+      ss << "The selection vector should only consist of 0's and 1's";
+      URCL_LOG_ERROR(ss.str().c_str());
+      throw std::invalid_argument(ss.str().c_str());
     }
   }
 
   if (damping_factor > 1 || damping_factor < 0)
   {
-    URCL_LOG_ERROR("The force mode damping factor should be between 0 and 1, both inclusive.");
-    return false;
+    std::stringstream ss;
+    ss << "The force mode damping factor should be between 0 and 1, both inclusive.";
+    URCL_LOG_ERROR(ss.str().c_str());
+    throw std::invalid_argument(ss.str().c_str());
   }
 
   if (script_command_interface_->clientConnected())