diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 # Changelog for futhask-base
-
+## 0.2.0
+Change name of `load` to `loadM`, and add new `load` that emits error instead of wrapping in `Maybe` 
 ## Unreleased changes
diff --git a/futhask-base.cabal b/futhask-base.cabal
--- a/futhask-base.cabal
+++ b/futhask-base.cabal
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 cabal-version: 1.12
 
 name:           futhask-base
-version:        0.1.0.0
+version:        0.2.0.0
 stability:      experimental
 category:       FFI
 synopsis:       Base library for libraries generated by futhask
diff --git a/src/Futhask/Object.hs b/src/Futhask/Object.hs
--- a/src/Futhask/Object.hs
+++ b/src/Futhask/Object.hs
@@ -167,7 +167,10 @@
 store fn a = encode a >>= lift . B.writeFile fn
 
 -- | read object from file
-load fn = lift (B.readFile fn) >>= decode 
+loadM fn = lift (B.readFile fn) >>= decode
+load fn = loadM fn >>= \mo -> pure $ case mo of
+    Nothing -> error (fn ++ " cannot be decoded.")
+    Just o -> o
 
 instance (FutharkOpaque fo, FutharkObject fo, ObjectContext fo ~ ctx, Monad m)
     => Serializable (FutT ctx c m) (fo c) where