diff --git a/app/fade.go b/app/fade.go
index 31413bc..290e0f4 100644
--- a/app/fade.go
+++ b/app/fade.go
@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@ package app
 
 import (
 	"os"
-	"strconv"
 
 	"codeberg.org/danjones000/strip-beats/media"
+	"codeberg.org/danjones000/strip-beats/utils"
 	"github.com/rivo/tview"
 )
 
 func validateNumber(input string, lastChar rune) bool {
-	num, err := strconv.ParseFloat(input, 64)
+	num, err := utils.HourMinSecToSeconds(input)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -42,16 +42,16 @@ func fadeFile() error {
 	cont := tview.NewApplication()
 	form := tview.NewForm().
 		AddInputField("Beginning time?", "0", 0, validateNumber, func(input string) {
-			start, _ = strconv.ParseFloat(input, 64)
+			start, _ = utils.HourMinSecToSeconds(input)
 		}).
 		AddInputField("Ending time? (leave 0 for full time)", "0", 0, validateNumber, func(input string) {
-			stop, _ = strconv.ParseFloat(input, 64)
+			stop, _ = utils.HourMinSecToSeconds(input)
 		}).
 		AddInputField("Fade in duration?", "0", 0, validateNumber, func(input string) {
-			up, _ = strconv.ParseFloat(input, 64)
+			up, _ = utils.HourMinSecToSeconds(input)
 		}).
 		AddInputField("Fade out duration?", "0", 0, validateNumber, func(input string) {
-			down, _ = strconv.ParseFloat(input, 64)
+			down, _ = utils.HourMinSecToSeconds(input)
 		}).
 		AddButton("Start", func() {
 			cont.Stop()
diff --git a/utils/utils.go b/utils/utils.go
index 663ef23..1f40e98 100644
--- a/utils/utils.go
+++ b/utils/utils.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package utils
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	p "path"
 	"strings"
@@ -14,8 +15,11 @@ func GetShortPath(path string) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", dir, base)
 }
 
-func HourMinSecToSeconds(time string) float64 {
+func HourMinSecToSeconds(time string) (float64, error) {
 	parts := strings.Split(time, ":")
+	if len(parts) > 3 {
+		return 0, errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("Can't parse %s. Must be in HH:MM:SS format", time))
+	}
 	units := []string{"h", "m", "s"}
 	units = units[len(units)-len(parts):]
 	f := ""
@@ -23,5 +27,5 @@ func HourMinSecToSeconds(time string) float64 {
 		f = f + part + units[idx]
 	}
 	dur, _ := t.ParseDuration(f)
-	return dur.Seconds()
+	return dur.Seconds(), nil
 }
diff --git a/utils/utils_hms_test.go b/utils/utils_hms_test.go
index dfe9713..a867755 100644
--- a/utils/utils_hms_test.go
+++ b/utils/utils_hms_test.go
@@ -1,30 +1,48 @@
 package utils
 
-import "testing"
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+)
 
-func hmsTest(t *testing.T, time string, expected float64) {
-	found := HourMinSecToSeconds(time)
-	if found != expected {
-		t.Fatalf(`HourMinSecToSeconds("%s") = %v, want %v`, time, found, expected)
+func hmsTest(t *testing.T, time string, expected float64, expecterr error) {
+	found, err := HourMinSecToSeconds(time)
+	var expecterrmsg, errmsg string
+	if err != nil {
+		errmsg = err.Error()
+	}
+	if expecterr != nil {
+		expecterrmsg = expecterr.Error()
+	}
+
+	if found != expected || errmsg != expecterrmsg {
+		t.Fatalf(`HourMinSecToSeconds("%s") = %v, %v, want %v, %v`, time, found, err, expected, expecterr)
 	}
 }
 
+func TestTwoManyParts(t *testing.T) {
+	val := "2:3:4:5:6"
+	err := fmt.Sprintf("Can't parse %s. Must be in HH:MM:SS format", val)
+	hmsTest(t, val, 0, errors.New(err))
+}
+
 func TestJustSeconds(t *testing.T) {
-	hmsTest(t, "4.23", 4.23)
+	hmsTest(t, "4.23", 4.23, nil)
 }
 
 func TestMinuteSeconds(t *testing.T) {
-	hmsTest(t, "2:3.45", 123.45)
+	hmsTest(t, "2:3.45", 123.45, nil)
 }
 
 func TestHourMinuteSeconds(t *testing.T) {
-	hmsTest(t, "3:5:12.43", 11112.43)
+	hmsTest(t, "3:5:12.43", 11112.43, nil)
 }
 
 func TestLeadingZeros(t *testing.T) {
-	hmsTest(t, "03:05:02.43", 11102.43)
+	hmsTest(t, "03:05:02.43", 11102.43, nil)
 }
 
 func TestWholeSecond(t *testing.T) {
-	hmsTest(t, "4:2", 242)
+	hmsTest(t, "4:2", 242, nil)
 }