diff --git a/rados/errors.go b/rados/errors.go
index 03a2a01..2f643f3 100644
--- a/rados/errors.go
+++ b/rados/errors.go
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ var (
 	// ErrEmptyArgument may be returned if a function argument is passed
 	// a zero-length slice or map.
 	ErrEmptyArgument = errors.New("Argument must contain at least one item")
+	// ErrInvalidIOContext may be returned if an api call requires an IOContext
+	// but IOContext is not ready for use.
+	ErrInvalidIOContext = errors.New("IOContext is not ready for use")
 )
 
 // Public radosErrors:
diff --git a/rados/ioctx.go b/rados/ioctx.go
index 598976d..26519d6 100644
--- a/rados/ioctx.go
+++ b/rados/ioctx.go
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ type IOContext struct {
 // with ceph C calls.
 func (ioctx *IOContext) validate() error {
 	if ioctx.ioctx == nil {
-		return ErrNotConnected
+		return ErrInvalidIOContext
 	}
 	return nil
 }