diff --git a/lib/ri_cal/parser.rb b/lib/ri_cal/parser.rb
index 99d3dd10..c24a7e60 100644
--- a/lib/ri_cal/parser.rb
+++ b/lib/ri_cal/parser.rb
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def self.parse(io = StringIO.new("")) #:nodoc:
     end
 
     def invalid #:nodoc:
-      raise Exception.new("Invalid icalendar file")
+      raise "Invalid icalendar file"
     end
 
     def still_in(component, separated_line) #:nodoc:
@@ -142,4 +142,4 @@ def parse_one(start, parent_component) #:nodoc:
       result
     end
   end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/lib/ri_cal/property_value.rb b/lib/ri_cal/property_value.rb
index 3ecaed44..9d6d94d8 100644
--- a/lib/ri_cal/property_value.rb
+++ b/lib/ri_cal/property_value.rb
@@ -57,12 +57,12 @@ def to_options_hash #:nodoc:
     
     def self.date_or_date_time(timezone_finder, separated_line) # :nodoc:
       match = separated_line[:value].match(/(\d\d\d\d)(\d\d)(\d\d)((T?)((\d\d)(\d\d)(\d\d))(Z?))?/)
-      raise Exception.new("Invalid date") unless match
+      raise "Invalid date" unless match
       if match[5] == "T" # date-time
         time = Time.utc(match[1].to_i, match[2].to_i, match[3].to_i, match[7].to_i, match[8].to_i, match[9].to_i)
         parms = (separated_line[:params] ||{}).dup
         if match[10] == "Z"
-          raise Exception.new("Invalid time, cannot combine Zulu with timezone reference") if parms[:tzid]
+          raise "Invalid time, cannot combine Zulu with timezone reference" if parms[:tzid]
           parms['TZID'] = "UTC"
         end
         PropertyValue::DateTime.new(timezone_finder, separated_line.merge(:params => parms))