diff --git a/lib/dynamo/message_test.go b/lib/dynamo/message_test.go
index 6f151885..25ad2081 100644
--- a/lib/dynamo/message_test.go
+++ b/lib/dynamo/message_test.go
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ func TestTransformAttributeValue(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range tcs {
-		actualValue := transformAttributeValue(tc.attr)
+		actualValue, err := transformAttributeValue(tc.attr)
+		assert.NoError(t, err, tc.name)
 		assert.Equal(t, tc.expectedValue, actualValue, tc.name)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/lib/dynamo/parse_message.go b/lib/dynamo/parse_message.go
index ea2a6f25..65786454 100644
--- a/lib/dynamo/parse_message.go
+++ b/lib/dynamo/parse_message.go
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ func NewMessageFromExport(item dynamodb.ItemResponse, keys []string, tableName s
 
 	// Snapshot time does not exist on the row
 	// Perhaps we can have it inferred from the manifest file in the future.
-	executionTime := time.Now()
+	rowData, err := transformImage(item.Item)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to transform item: %w", err)
+	}
 
-	rowData := transformImage(item.Item)
 	primaryKeys := make(map[string]any)
 	for _, key := range keys {
 		val, isOk := rowData[key]
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ func NewMessageFromExport(item dynamodb.ItemResponse, keys []string, tableName s
 	return &Message{
 		op:            "r",
 		tableName:     tableName,
-		executionTime: executionTime,
+		executionTime: time.Now(),
 		afterRowData:  rowData,
 		primaryKey:    primaryKeys,
 	}, nil
@@ -67,12 +69,27 @@ func NewMessage(record *dynamodbstreams.Record, tableName string) (*Message, err
 		}
 	}
 
+	beforeData, err := transformImage(record.Dynamodb.OldImage)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to transform old image: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	afterData, err := transformImage(record.Dynamodb.NewImage)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to transform new image: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	primaryKey, err := transformImage(record.Dynamodb.Keys)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to transform keys: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	return &Message{
 		op:            op,
 		tableName:     tableName,
 		executionTime: executionTime,
-		beforeRowData: transformImage(record.Dynamodb.OldImage),
-		afterRowData:  transformImage(record.Dynamodb.NewImage),
-		primaryKey:    transformImage(record.Dynamodb.Keys),
+		beforeRowData: beforeData,
+		afterRowData:  afterData,
+		primaryKey:    primaryKey,
 	}, nil
 }