diff --git a/util/determine_block_proposer.go b/util/determine_block_proposer.go
index 22a4c73..a6db7a2 100644
--- a/util/determine_block_proposer.go
+++ b/util/determine_block_proposer.go
@@ -23,35 +23,37 @@ type KeyFile struct {
 	PrivKey Key    `json:"priv-key"`
 }
 
-func GetValidatorCometBFTIdentity(ctx sdk.Context, rootDir string) (string, bool) {
+func GetValidatorCometBFTIdentity(ctx sdk.Context, rootDir string) (validatorIdentity string, err error) {
 	cfg := cometcfg.DefaultConfig()
 	jsonFilePath := filepath.Join(rootDir, cfg.PrivValidatorKey)
 
 	jsonFile, err := os.Open(jsonFilePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		GetAppLogger().Error(ctx, "error while opening config", err.Error())
-		return "", false
+		return
 	}
 	jsonBytes, err := io.ReadAll(jsonFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		GetAppLogger().Error(ctx, "error while reading file", err.Error())
-		return "", false
+		return
 	}
 
 	var keyFile KeyFile
 	err = json.Unmarshal(jsonBytes, &keyFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		GetAppLogger().Error(ctx, "error while unmarshaling key file", err.Error())
-		return "", false
+		return
 	}
-	return strings.ToLower(keyFile.Address), true
+	validatorIdentity = strings.ToLower(keyFile.Address)
+	return
 }
 
-func IsValidatorBlockProposer(ctx sdk.Context, proposerAddress []byte, rootDir string) bool {
-	validatorIdentity, validResult := GetValidatorCometBFTIdentity(ctx, rootDir)
-	if !validResult {
-		return false
+func IsValidatorBlockProposer(ctx sdk.Context, proposerAddress []byte, rootDir string) (result bool) {
+	validatorIdentity, err := GetValidatorCometBFTIdentity(ctx, rootDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
 	}
 	hexProposerAddress := hex.EncodeToString(proposerAddress)
-	return hexProposerAddress == validatorIdentity
+	result = hexProposerAddress == validatorIdentity
+	return
 }
diff --git a/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_distribution_request.go b/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_distribution_request.go
index 97d1ef3..a2b9b2a 100644
--- a/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_distribution_request.go
+++ b/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_distribution_request.go
@@ -28,9 +28,12 @@ func (k msgServer) DistributionRequest(goCtx context.Context, msg *types.MsgDist
 	util.GetAppLogger().Info(ctx, distributionRequestTag+"storing distribution: "+msg.GetDistribution().String())
 	k.StoreDistributionOrder(ctx, *msg.GetDistribution())
 
-	validatorIdentity, validResult := util.GetValidatorCometBFTIdentity(ctx, k.RootDir)
-	if !validResult || msg.Distribution.GetProposer() != validatorIdentity {
-		util.GetAppLogger().Info(ctx, distributionRequestTag+"Not the proposer. valid result: %t proposer: %s validator identity: %s", validResult, msg.Distribution.GetProposer(), validatorIdentity)
+	validatorIdentity, err := util.GetValidatorCometBFTIdentity(ctx, k.RootDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if msg.Distribution.GetProposer() != validatorIdentity {
+		util.GetAppLogger().Info(ctx, distributionRequestTag+"Not the proposer. proposer: %s validator identity: %s", msg.Distribution.GetProposer(), validatorIdentity)
 		return &types.MsgDistributionRequestResponse{}, nil
 	}
 
diff --git a/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_init_pop.go b/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_init_pop.go
index 86305f6..bb641ed 100644
--- a/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_init_pop.go
+++ b/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_init_pop.go
@@ -19,8 +19,11 @@ func (k msgServer) InitPop(goCtx context.Context, msg *types.MsgInitPop) (*types
 
 	k.StoreChallenge(ctx, challenge)
 
-	validatorIdentity, validResult := util.GetValidatorCometBFTIdentity(ctx, k.RootDir)
-	if validResult && msg.Initiator == validatorIdentity {
+	validatorIdentity, err := util.GetValidatorCometBFTIdentity(ctx, k.RootDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if msg.Initiator == validatorIdentity {
 		go util.SendMqttPopInitMessagesToServer(ctx, challenge)
 	}
 
diff --git a/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_reissue_rddl_proposal.go b/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_reissue_rddl_proposal.go
index cf6bf4d..48f91fe 100644
--- a/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_reissue_rddl_proposal.go
+++ b/x/dao/keeper/msg_server_reissue_rddl_proposal.go
@@ -29,9 +29,12 @@ func (k msgServer) ReissueRDDLProposal(goCtx context.Context, msg *types.MsgReis
 	reissuance.LastIncludedPop = msg.GetLastIncludedPop()
 	k.StoreReissuance(ctx, reissuance)
 
-	validatorIdentity, validResult := util.GetValidatorCometBFTIdentity(ctx, k.RootDir)
-	if !validResult || msg.Proposer != validatorIdentity {
-		util.GetAppLogger().Info(ctx, reissueTag+"Not the proposer. valid result: %t proposer: %s validator identity: %s", validResult, msg.Proposer, validatorIdentity)
+	validatorIdentity, err := util.GetValidatorCometBFTIdentity(ctx, k.RootDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if msg.Proposer != validatorIdentity {
+		util.GetAppLogger().Info(ctx, reissueTag+"Not the proposer. proposer: %s validator identity: %s", msg.Proposer, validatorIdentity)
 		return &types.MsgReissueRDDLProposalResponse{}, nil
 	}