diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 223d3c2..0e8bd5b 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "strum",
+ "thiserror",
  "tokio",
 ]
 
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 74e782a..1476225 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -18,4 +18,5 @@ safer-bytes = "0.2"
 serde = {version = "1", features = ["derive"]}
 serde_json = "1"
 strum = { version = "0.26", features = ["derive"] }
+thiserror = "1"
 tokio = {version = "1", features = ["full"]}
diff --git a/src/error.rs b/src/error.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce306ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/error.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+/// error type for the server
+#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
+pub enum GeneralError {
+	#[error(transparent)]
+	Io(#[from] std::io::Error),
+	#[error(transparent)]
+	Json(#[from] serde_json::Error),
+	#[error("{0}")]
+	Custom(String),
+	#[error("{0}")]
+	CustomPrivate(String),
+}
diff --git a/src/level.rs b/src/level.rs
index 03296e9..c79d60f 100644
--- a/src/level.rs
+++ b/src/level.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use std::{
 
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
-use crate::{packet::server::ServerPacket, util::neighbors};
+use crate::{error::GeneralError, packet::server::ServerPacket, util::neighbors};
 
 use self::block::BLOCK_INFO;
 
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ impl Level {
 	}
 
 	/// saves the level
-	pub async fn save<P>(&self, path: P) -> std::io::Result<()>
+	pub async fn save<P>(&self, path: P) -> Result<(), GeneralError>
 	where
 		P: AsRef<Path>,
 	{
@@ -116,29 +116,22 @@ impl Level {
 		tokio::fs::create_dir_all(path).await?;
 		tokio::fs::write(
 			path.join(LEVEL_INFO_PATH),
-			serde_json::to_string_pretty(self).unwrap(),
+			serde_json::to_string_pretty(self)?,
 		)
 		.await?;
 		let mut encoder = flate2::write::GzEncoder::new(Vec::new(), flate2::Compression::best());
-		encoder
-			.write_all(&self.blocks)
-			.expect("failed to write blocks");
-		tokio::fs::write(
-			path.join(LEVEL_DATA_PATH),
-			encoder.finish().expect("failed to encode blocks"),
-		)
-		.await
+		encoder.write_all(&self.blocks)?;
+		Ok(tokio::fs::write(path.join(LEVEL_DATA_PATH), encoder.finish()?).await?)
 	}
 
 	/// loads the level
-	pub async fn load<P>(path: P) -> std::io::Result<Self>
+	pub async fn load<P>(path: P) -> Result<Self, GeneralError>
 	where
 		P: AsRef<Path>,
 	{
 		let path = path.as_ref();
 		let mut info: Self =
-			serde_json::from_str(&tokio::fs::read_to_string(path.join(LEVEL_INFO_PATH)).await?)
-				.expect("failed to deserialize level info");
+			serde_json::from_str(&tokio::fs::read_to_string(path.join(LEVEL_INFO_PATH)).await?)?;
 		let blocks_data = tokio::fs::read(path.join(LEVEL_DATA_PATH)).await?;
 		let mut decoder = flate2::read::GzDecoder::new(blocks_data.as_slice());
 		decoder.read_to_end(&mut info.blocks)?;
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index e8ff4ac..2a3044a 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
+use error::GeneralError;
 use server::{
 	config::{OptionalServerConfig, ServerConfig},
 	Server,
 };
 
 mod command;
+mod error;
 mod level;
 mod packet;
 mod player;
@@ -18,11 +20,10 @@ const SERVER_NAME: &str = "classics";
 const CONFIG_FILE: &str = "./server-config.json";
 
 #[tokio::main]
-async fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
+async fn main() -> Result<(), GeneralError> {
 	let config_path = PathBuf::from(CONFIG_FILE);
 	let config = if config_path.exists() {
-		serde_json::from_str::<OptionalServerConfig>(&std::fs::read_to_string(&config_path)?)
-			.expect("failed to deserialize config")
+		serde_json::from_str::<OptionalServerConfig>(&std::fs::read_to_string(&config_path)?)?
 			.build_default()
 	} else {
 		ServerConfig::default()
diff --git a/src/server.rs b/src/server.rs
index 968941d..b59cfa1 100644
--- a/src/server.rs
+++ b/src/server.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use std::{path::PathBuf, sync::Arc};
 use tokio::{net::TcpListener, sync::RwLock};
 
 use crate::{
+	error::GeneralError,
 	level::{
 		block::{BlockType, BLOCK_INFO},
 		BlockUpdate, Level,
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ impl ServerData {
 
 impl Server {
 	/// creates a new server with a generated level
-	pub async fn new(config: ServerConfig) -> std::io::Result<Self> {
+	pub async fn new(config: ServerConfig) -> Result<Self, GeneralError> {
 		let levels_path = PathBuf::from(LEVELS_PATH);
 		if !levels_path.exists() {
 			std::fs::create_dir_all(&levels_path)?;
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ impl Server {
 	}
 
 	/// creates a new server with the given level
-	pub async fn new_with_level(config: ServerConfig, level: Level) -> std::io::Result<Self> {
+	pub async fn new_with_level(config: ServerConfig, level: Level) -> Result<Self, GeneralError> {
 		let listener = TcpListener::bind("0.0.0.0:25565").await?;
 
 		Ok(Self {
@@ -101,11 +102,15 @@ impl Server {
 	}
 
 	/// starts the server
-	pub async fn run(self) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+	pub async fn run(self) -> Result<(), GeneralError> {
 		let data = self.data.clone();
 		tokio::spawn(async move {
 			loop {
-				let (stream, addr) = self.listener.accept().await.unwrap();
+				let (stream, addr) = self
+					.listener
+					.accept()
+					.await
+					.expect("failed to accept listener!");
 				println!("connection from {addr}");
 				let data = data.clone();
 				tokio::spawn(async move {
@@ -113,7 +118,7 @@ impl Server {
 				});
 			}
 		});
-		handle_ticks(self.data.clone()).await;
+		handle_ticks(self.data.clone()).await?;
 		tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(1)).await;
 
 		// TODO: cancel pending tasks/send out "Server is stopping" messages *here* instead of elsewhere
@@ -129,7 +134,7 @@ impl Server {
 }
 
 /// function to tick the server
-async fn handle_ticks(data: Arc<RwLock<ServerData>>) {
+async fn handle_ticks(data: Arc<RwLock<ServerData>>) -> Result<(), GeneralError> {
 	let mut current_tick = 0;
 	let mut last_auto_save = std::time::Instant::now();
 	loop {
@@ -138,12 +143,7 @@ async fn handle_ticks(data: Arc<RwLock<ServerData>>) {
 			tick(&mut data, current_tick);
 
 			if data.config_needs_saving {
-				std::fs::write(
-					CONFIG_FILE,
-					serde_json::to_string_pretty(&data.config)
-						.expect("failed to serialize default config"),
-				)
-				.expect("failed to save config file");
+				tokio::fs::write(CONFIG_FILE, serde_json::to_string_pretty(&data.config)?).await?;
 				data.config_needs_saving = false;
 			}
 
@@ -164,8 +164,7 @@ async fn handle_ticks(data: Arc<RwLock<ServerData>>) {
 				data.level.save_now = false;
 				data.level
 					.save(PathBuf::from(LEVELS_PATH).join(&data.config.level_name))
-					.await
-					.expect("failed to autosave level");
+					.await?;
 				last_auto_save = std::time::Instant::now();
 
 				let packet = ServerPacket::Message {
@@ -181,6 +180,8 @@ async fn handle_ticks(data: Arc<RwLock<ServerData>>) {
 		current_tick = current_tick.wrapping_add(1);
 		tokio::time::sleep(TICK_DURATION).await;
 	}
+
+	Ok(())
 }
 
 /// function which ticks the server once
diff --git a/src/server/network.rs b/src/server/network.rs
index 8071dbd..e2e94eb 100644
--- a/src/server/network.rs
+++ b/src/server/network.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ use tokio::{
 
 use crate::{
 	command::Command,
+	error::GeneralError,
 	level::{block::BLOCK_INFO, BlockUpdate, Level},
 	packet::{
 		client::ClientPacket, server::ServerPacket, ExtBitmask, PacketWriter, ARRAY_LENGTH,
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ use crate::{
 
 use super::ServerData;
 
-async fn next_packet(stream: &mut TcpStream) -> std::io::Result<Option<ClientPacket>> {
+async fn next_packet(stream: &mut TcpStream) -> Result<Option<ClientPacket>, GeneralError> {
 	let id = stream.read_u8().await?;
 
 	if let Some(size) = ClientPacket::get_size_from_id(id) {
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ async fn next_packet(stream: &mut TcpStream) -> std::io::Result<Option<ClientPac
 	}
 }
 
-async fn write_packets<I>(stream: &mut TcpStream, packets: I) -> std::io::Result<()>
+async fn write_packets<I>(stream: &mut TcpStream, packets: I) -> Result<(), GeneralError>
 where
 	I: Iterator<Item = ServerPacket>,
 {
@@ -84,9 +85,12 @@ pub(super) async fn handle_stream(
 	let r = handle_stream_inner(&mut stream, addr, data.clone(), &mut own_id).await;
 
 	println!("{addr} is no longer connected");
-	match r {
-		Ok(disconnect_reason) => {
-			if let Some(disconnect_reason) = disconnect_reason {
+	if let Err(e) = r {
+		match e {
+			// unexpected eof is expected when clients disconnect
+			GeneralError::Io(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof => {}
+			GeneralError::Custom(disconnect_reason) => {
+				println!("disconnecting <{addr}> for reason: {disconnect_reason}");
 				let packet = ServerPacket::DisconnectPlayer { disconnect_reason };
 				let writer = PacketWriter::default().write_u8(packet.get_id());
 				let msg = packet.write(writer).into_raw_packet();
@@ -94,11 +98,8 @@ pub(super) async fn handle_stream(
 					eprintln!("Failed to write disconnect packet for <{addr}>: {e}");
 				}
 			}
-		}
-		Err(e) => {
-			// unexpected eof is expected when clients disconnect
-			if e.kind() != std::io::ErrorKind::UnexpectedEof {
-				eprintln!("Error in stream handler for <{addr}>: {e}")
+			_ => {
+				eprintln!("Error in stream handler for <{addr}>: {e:?}");
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 	addr: SocketAddr,
 	data: Arc<RwLock<ServerData>>,
 	own_id: &mut i8,
-) -> std::io::Result<Option<String>> {
+) -> Result<(), GeneralError> {
 	let mut reply_queue: Vec<ServerPacket> = Vec::new();
 
 	macro_rules! msg {
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 	loop {
 		if let Some(player) = data.read().await.players.iter().find(|p| p.id == *own_id) {
 			if let Some(msg) = &player.should_be_kicked {
-				return Ok(Some(format!("Kicked: {msg}")));
+				return Err(GeneralError::Custom(msg.clone()));
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 					magic_number,
 				} => {
 					if protocol_version != 0x07 {
-						return Ok(Some("Unknown protocol version! Please connect with a classic 0.30-compatible client.".to_string()));
+						return Err(GeneralError::Custom("Unknown protocol version! Please connect with a classic 0.30-compatible client.".to_string()));
 					}
 
 					let zero = f16::from_f32(0.0);
@@ -168,7 +169,9 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 						ServerProtectionMode::None => {}
 						ServerProtectionMode::Password(password) => {
 							if verification_key != *password {
-								return Ok(Some("Incorrect password!".to_string()));
+								return Err(GeneralError::Custom(
+									"Incorrect password!".to_string(),
+								));
 							}
 						}
 						ServerProtectionMode::PasswordsByUser(passwords) => {
@@ -177,14 +180,18 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 								.map(|password| verification_key == *password)
 								.unwrap_or_default()
 							{
-								return Ok(Some("Incorrect password!".to_string()));
+								return Err(GeneralError::Custom(
+									"Incorrect password!".to_string(),
+								));
 							}
 						}
 					}
 
 					for player in &data.players {
 						if player.username == username {
-							return Ok(Some("Player with username already connected!".to_string()));
+							return Err(GeneralError::Custom(
+								"Player with username already connected!".to_string(),
+							));
 						}
 					}
 
@@ -232,7 +239,7 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 
 					println!("generating level packets");
 					reply_queue.extend(
-						build_level_packets(&data.level, extensions, custom_blocks_support_level)
+						build_level_packets(&data.level, extensions, custom_blocks_support_level)?
 							.into_iter(),
 					);
 
@@ -321,7 +328,9 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 						|| y.clamp(0, data.level.y_size as i16 - 1) != y
 						|| z.clamp(0, data.level.z_size as i16 - 1) != z
 					{
-						return Ok(Some("Attempt to place block out of bounds".to_string()));
+						return Err(GeneralError::Custom(
+							"Attempt to place block out of bounds".to_string(),
+						));
 					}
 
 					let new_block_info = BLOCK_INFO.get(&block_type);
@@ -429,7 +438,7 @@ async fn handle_stream_inner(
 
 				ClientPacket::Extended(_packet) => {
 					// extended packets!
-					return Ok(Some(
+					return Err(GeneralError::Custom(
 						"Unexpected extension packet in this phase!".to_string(),
 					));
 					// match packet {
@@ -468,7 +477,7 @@ fn build_level_packets(
 	level: &Level,
 	extensions: ExtBitmask,
 	custom_blocks_support_level: u8,
-) -> Vec<ServerPacket> {
+) -> Result<Vec<ServerPacket>, GeneralError> {
 	let mut packets: Vec<ServerPacket> = vec![ServerPacket::LevelInitialize {}];
 
 	let custom_blocks =
@@ -490,8 +499,8 @@ fn build_level_packets(
 	}));
 
 	let mut e = GzEncoder::new(Vec::new(), Compression::best());
-	e.write_all(&data).expect("failed to gzip level data");
-	let data = e.finish().expect("failed to gzip level data");
+	e.write_all(&data)?;
+	let data = e.finish()?;
 	let data_len = data.len();
 	let mut total_bytes = 0;
 
@@ -513,5 +522,5 @@ fn build_level_packets(
 		z_size: level.z_size as i16,
 	});
 
-	packets
+	Ok(packets)
 }
diff --git a/src/server/network/extensions.rs b/src/server/network/extensions.rs
index a348f62..95ea696 100644
--- a/src/server/network/extensions.rs
+++ b/src/server/network/extensions.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use tokio::net::TcpStream;
 
 use crate::{
+	error::GeneralError,
 	level::block::CUSTOM_BLOCKS_SUPPORT_LEVEL,
 	packet::{
 		client::ClientPacket, client_extended::ExtendedClientPacket, server::ServerPacket,
@@ -10,7 +11,9 @@ use crate::{
 
 use super::{next_packet, write_packets};
 
-pub async fn get_supported_extensions(stream: &mut TcpStream) -> std::io::Result<(ExtBitmask, u8)> {
+pub async fn get_supported_extensions(
+	stream: &mut TcpStream,
+) -> Result<(ExtBitmask, u8), GeneralError> {
 	let extensions = ExtBitmask::all().all_contained_info();
 
 	write_packets(
@@ -39,7 +42,9 @@ pub async fn get_supported_extensions(stream: &mut TcpStream) -> std::io::Result
 			{
 				client_extensions.push(ExtInfo::new(ext_name, version, ExtBitmask::none()));
 			} else {
-				panic!("expected ExtEntry packet!");
+				return Err(GeneralError::Custom(
+					"expected ExtEntry packet!".to_string(),
+				));
 			}
 		}
 		client_extensions.retain_mut(|cext| {
@@ -76,7 +81,9 @@ pub async fn get_supported_extensions(stream: &mut TcpStream) -> std::io::Result
 		{
 			support_level.min(CUSTOM_BLOCKS_SUPPORT_LEVEL)
 		} else {
-			panic!("expected CustomBlockSupportLevel packet!");
+			return Err(GeneralError::Custom(
+				"expected CustomBlockSupportLevel packet!".to_string(),
+			));
 		}
 	} else {
 		0