diff --git a/exercises/practice/protein-translation/.meta/example.jl b/exercises/practice/protein-translation/.meta/example.jl
index 21d6a1d9..c151a6a9 100644
--- a/exercises/practice/protein-translation/.meta/example.jl
+++ b/exercises/practice/protein-translation/.meta/example.jl
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ macro rna_str(str)
     n = 3
     result = []
     for i=1:n:length(str)
-        substring = SubString(str, i, i+n-1)
+        substring = try
+            SubString(str, i, i+n-1)
+        catch
+            throw(TranslationError("invalid rna string"))
+        end
         protein = string_to_protein(substring)
         protein == "STOP" && break
         push!(result, protein)
@@ -39,4 +43,4 @@ function string_to_protein(str)
     p = get(codon_protein_dict, str, nothing)
     p === nothing && throw(TranslationError("invalid codon"))
     return p
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/exercises/practice/protein-translation/runtests.jl b/exercises/practice/protein-translation/runtests.jl
index e066ec86..0930b12f 100644
--- a/exercises/practice/protein-translation/runtests.jl
+++ b/exercises/practice/protein-translation/runtests.jl
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ include("protein-translation.jl")
     end
 
     @testset "Sequence of two different codons translates into proteins" begin
-        @test rna"UUAUUG" == ["Leucine", "Phenylalanine"]
+        @test rna"UUAUUU" == ["Leucine", "Phenylalanine"]
     end
 
     @testset "Translation stops if STOP codon appears in middle of sequence" begin
@@ -71,11 +71,11 @@ include("protein-translation.jl")
     end
 
     @testset "Non existent codon causes translation exception" begin
-        @test_throws TranslationError rna"AAA"
+        @test_throws TranslationError @macroexpand rna"AAA"
     end
 
     @testset "Incomplete codon causes translation exception" begin
-        @test_throws TranslationError rna"UGGU"
+        @test_throws TranslationError @macroexpand rna"UGGU"
     end
 
     @testset "Incomplete RNA sequence can translate if given a stop codon" begin