diff --git a/bench_test.go b/bench_test.go
index c5418fbb..d555da45 100644
--- a/bench_test.go
+++ b/bench_test.go
@@ -73,9 +73,7 @@ func BenchmarkSelectRowSimpleNarrow(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRow("select * from narrow where id=$1", ids[i]); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		_ = mustSelectRow(b, conn, "select * from narrow where id=$1", ids[i])
 	}
 }
 
@@ -91,9 +89,7 @@ func BenchmarkSelectRowPreparedNarrow(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRow("getNarrowById", ids[i]); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRow(b, conn, "getNarrowById", ids[i])
 	}
 }
 
@@ -109,9 +105,7 @@ func BenchmarkSelectRowsSimpleNarrow(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("select * from narrow where id between $1 and $2", ids[i], ids[i]+10); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "select * from narrow where id between $1 and $2", ids[i], ids[i]+10)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -127,9 +121,7 @@ func BenchmarkSelectRowsPreparedNarrow(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("getMultipleNarrowById", ids[i], ids[i]+10); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "getMultipleNarrowById", ids[i], ids[i]+10)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -138,7 +130,7 @@ func createJoinsTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if _, err := conn.Execute(`
+	mustExecute(b, conn, `
 		drop table if exists product_component;
 		drop table if exists component;
 		drop table if exists product;
@@ -189,9 +181,7 @@ func createJoinsTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		create index on product_component(component_id);
 
 		analyze;
-	`); err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Unable to create test data: %v", err))
-	}
+	`)
 
 	mustPrepare(b, conn, "joinAggregate", `
 		select product.id, sum(cost*quantity) as total_cost
@@ -222,9 +212,7 @@ func BenchmarkSelectRowsSimpleJoins(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows(sql); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, sql)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -234,9 +222,7 @@ func BenchmarkSelectRowsPreparedJoins(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("joinAggregate"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "joinAggregate")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -245,7 +231,7 @@ func createInt2TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if _, err := conn.Execute(`
+	mustExecute(b, conn, `
 		drop table if exists t;
 
 		create temporary table t(
@@ -260,9 +246,7 @@ func createInt2TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		select
 			(random() * 32000)::int2, (random() * 32000)::int2, (random() * 32000)::int2, (random() * 32000)::int2, (random() * 32000)::int2
 		from generate_series(1, 10);
-	`); err != nil {
-		b.Fatalf("Could not set up test data: %v", err)
-	}
+	`)
 
 	int2TextVsBinaryTestDataLoaded = true
 }
@@ -279,9 +263,7 @@ func BenchmarkInt2Text(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectInt16"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectInt16")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -293,9 +275,7 @@ func BenchmarkInt2Binary(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectInt16"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectInt16")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -304,7 +284,7 @@ func createInt4TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if _, err := conn.Execute(`
+	mustExecute(b, conn, `
 		drop table if exists t;
 
 		create temporary table t(
@@ -319,9 +299,7 @@ func createInt4TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		select
 			(random() * 1000000)::int4, (random() * 1000000)::int4, (random() * 1000000)::int4, (random() * 1000000)::int4, (random() * 1000000)::int4
 		from generate_series(1, 10);
-	`); err != nil {
-		b.Fatalf("Could not set up test data: %v", err)
-	}
+	`)
 
 	int4TextVsBinaryTestDataLoaded = true
 }
@@ -338,9 +316,7 @@ func BenchmarkInt4Text(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectInt32"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectInt32")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -352,9 +328,7 @@ func BenchmarkInt4Binary(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectInt32"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectInt32")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -363,7 +337,7 @@ func createInt8TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if _, err := conn.Execute(`
+	mustExecute(b, conn, `
 		drop table if exists t;
 
 		create temporary table t(
@@ -378,9 +352,7 @@ func createInt8TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		select
 			(random() * 1000000)::int8, (random() * 1000000)::int8, (random() * 1000000)::int8, (random() * 1000000)::int8, (random() * 1000000)::int8
 		from generate_series(1, 10);
-	`); err != nil {
-		b.Fatalf("Could not set up test data: %v", err)
-	}
+	`)
 
 	int8TextVsBinaryTestDataLoaded = true
 }
@@ -397,9 +369,7 @@ func BenchmarkInt8Text(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectInt64"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectInt64")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -411,9 +381,7 @@ func BenchmarkInt8Binary(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectInt64"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectInt64")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -422,7 +390,7 @@ func createFloat4TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if _, err := conn.Execute(`
+	mustExecute(b, conn, `
 		drop table if exists t;
 
 		create temporary table t(
@@ -437,9 +405,7 @@ func createFloat4TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		select
 			(random() * 1000000)::float4, (random() * 1000000)::float4, (random() * 1000000)::float4, (random() * 1000000)::float4, (random() * 1000000)::float4
 		from generate_series(1, 10);
-	`); err != nil {
-		b.Fatalf("Could not set up test data: %v", err)
-	}
+	`)
 
 	float4TextVsBinaryTestDataLoaded = true
 }
@@ -456,9 +422,7 @@ func BenchmarkFloat4Text(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectFloat32"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectFloat32")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -470,9 +434,7 @@ func BenchmarkFloat4Binary(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectFloat32"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectFloat32")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -481,7 +443,7 @@ func createFloat8TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if _, err := conn.Execute(`
+	mustExecute(b, conn, `
 		drop table if exists t;
 
 		create temporary table t(
@@ -496,9 +458,7 @@ func createFloat8TextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		select
 			(random() * 1000000)::float8, (random() * 1000000)::float8, (random() * 1000000)::float8, (random() * 1000000)::float8, (random() * 1000000)::float8
 		from generate_series(1, 10);
-	`); err != nil {
-		b.Fatalf("Could not set up test data: %v", err)
-	}
+	`)
 
 	float8TextVsBinaryTestDataLoaded = true
 }
@@ -515,9 +475,7 @@ func BenchmarkFloat8Text(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectFloat32"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectFloat32")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -529,9 +487,7 @@ func BenchmarkFloat8Binary(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectFloat32"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectFloat32")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -540,7 +496,7 @@ func createBoolTextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if _, err := conn.Execute(`
+	mustExecute(b, conn, `
 		drop table if exists t;
 
 		create temporary table t(
@@ -555,9 +511,7 @@ func createBoolTextVsBinaryTestData(b *testing.B, conn *Connection) {
 		select
 			random() > 0.5, random() > 0.5, random() > 0.5, random() > 0.5, random() > 0.5
 		from generate_series(1, 10);
-	`); err != nil {
-		b.Fatalf("Could not set up test data: %v", err)
-	}
+	`)
 
 	boolTextVsBinaryTestDataLoaded = true
 }
@@ -574,9 +528,7 @@ func BenchmarkBoolText(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectBool"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectBool")
 	}
 }
 
@@ -588,8 +540,6 @@ func BenchmarkBoolBinary(b *testing.B) {
 
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		if _, err := conn.SelectRows("selectBool"); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("Failure while benchmarking: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustSelectRows(b, conn, "selectBool")
 	}
 }
diff --git a/connection_pool_test.go b/connection_pool_test.go
index d211104b..bfc76dbf 100644
--- a/connection_pool_test.go
+++ b/connection_pool_test.go
@@ -43,13 +43,8 @@ func TestPoolAcquireAndReleaseCycle(t *testing.T) {
 	allConnections := acquireAll()
 
 	for _, c := range allConnections {
-		var err error
-		if _, err = c.Execute("create temporary table t(counter integer not null)"); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal("Unable to create temp table:" + err.Error())
-		}
-		if _, err = c.Execute("insert into t(counter) values(0);"); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal("Unable to insert initial counter row: " + err.Error())
-		}
+		mustExecute(t, c, "create temporary table t(counter integer not null)")
+		mustExecute(t, c, "insert into t(counter) values(0);")
 	}
 
 	for _, c := range allConnections {
@@ -65,10 +60,7 @@ func TestPoolAcquireAndReleaseCycle(t *testing.T) {
 		defer pool.Release(conn)
 
 		// Increment counter...
-		_, err = conn.Execute("update t set counter = counter + 1")
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatal("Unable to update counter: " + err.Error())
-		}
+		mustExecute(t, conn, "update t set counter = counter + 1")
 		completeSync <- 0
 	}
 
@@ -86,11 +78,7 @@ func TestPoolAcquireAndReleaseCycle(t *testing.T) {
 	allConnections = acquireAll()
 
 	for _, c := range allConnections {
-		v, err := c.SelectValue("select counter from t")
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatal("Unable to read back execution counter: " + err.Error())
-		}
-
+		v := mustSelectValue(t, c, "select counter from t")
 		n := v.(int32)
 		if n == 0 {
 			t.Error("A connection was never used")
@@ -115,9 +103,7 @@ func TestPoolReleaseWithTransactions(t *testing.T) {
 
 	var err error
 	conn := pool.Acquire()
-	if _, err = conn.Execute("begin"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error begining transaction: %v", err)
-	}
+	mustExecute(t, conn, "begin")
 	if _, err = conn.Execute("select"); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("Did not receive expected error")
 	}
@@ -132,9 +118,7 @@ func TestPoolReleaseWithTransactions(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	conn = pool.Acquire()
-	if _, err = conn.Execute("begin"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error begining transaction: %v", err)
-	}
+	mustExecute(t, conn, "begin")
 	if conn.txStatus != 'T' {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected txStatus to be 'T', instead it was '%c'", conn.txStatus)
 	}
diff --git a/connection_test.go b/connection_test.go
index a79d3e2c..9e3baf42 100644
--- a/connection_test.go
+++ b/connection_test.go
@@ -44,8 +44,7 @@ func TestConnect(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Did not connect to specified database (%v)", defaultConnectionParameters.Database)
 	}
 
-	rows, err = conn.SelectRows("select current_user")
-	if err != nil || rows[0]["current_user"] != defaultConnectionParameters.User {
+	if user := mustSelectValue(t, conn, "select current_user"); user != defaultConnectionParameters.User {
 		t.Errorf("Did not connect as specified user (%v)", defaultConnectionParameters.User)
 	}
 
@@ -137,46 +136,26 @@ func TestConnectWithMD5Password(t *testing.T) {
 func TestExecute(t *testing.T) {
 	conn := getSharedConnection()
 
-	results, err := conn.Execute("create temporary table foo(id integer primary key);")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal("Execute failed: " + err.Error())
-	}
-	if results != "CREATE TABLE" {
+	if results := mustExecute(t, conn, "create temporary table foo(id integer primary key);"); results != "CREATE TABLE" {
 		t.Error("Unexpected results from Execute")
 	}
 
 	// Accept parameters
-	results, err = conn.Execute("insert into foo(id) values($1)", 1)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("Execute failed: %v", err)
-	}
-	if results != "INSERT 0 1" {
+	if results := mustExecute(t, conn, "insert into foo(id) values($1)", 1); results != "INSERT 0 1" {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected results from Execute: %v", results)
 	}
 
-	results, err = conn.Execute("drop table foo;")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal("Execute failed: " + err.Error())
-	}
-	if results != "DROP TABLE" {
+	if results := mustExecute(t, conn, "drop table foo;"); results != "DROP TABLE" {
 		t.Error("Unexpected results from Execute")
 	}
 
 	// Multiple statements can be executed -- last command tag is returned
-	results, err = conn.Execute("create temporary table foo(id serial primary key); drop table foo;")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal("Execute failed: " + err.Error())
-	}
-	if results != "DROP TABLE" {
+	if results := mustExecute(t, conn, "create temporary table foo(id serial primary key); drop table foo;"); results != "DROP TABLE" {
 		t.Error("Unexpected results from Execute")
 	}
 
 	// Can execute longer SQL strings than sharedBufferSize
-	results, err = conn.Execute(strings.Repeat("select 42; ", 1000))
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal("Execute failed: " + err.Error())
-	}
-	if results != "SELECT 1" {
+	if results := mustExecute(t, conn, strings.Repeat("select 42; ", 1000)); results != "SELECT 1" {
 		t.Errorf("Unexpected results from Execute: %v", results)
 	}
 }
@@ -239,10 +218,7 @@ func TestSelectFuncFailure(t *testing.T) {
 func TestSelectRows(t *testing.T) {
 	conn := getSharedConnection()
 
-	rows, err := conn.SelectRows("select $1 as name, null as position", "Jack")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal("Query failed")
-	}
+	rows := mustSelectRows(t, conn, "select $1 as name, null as position", "Jack")
 
 	if len(rows) != 1 {
 		t.Fatal("Received wrong number of rows")
@@ -264,11 +240,7 @@ func TestSelectRows(t *testing.T) {
 func TestSelectRow(t *testing.T) {
 	conn := getSharedConnection()
 
-	row, err := conn.SelectRow("select $1 as name, null as position", "Jack")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal("Query failed")
-	}
-
+	row := mustSelectRow(t, conn, "select $1 as name, null as position", "Jack")
 	if row["name"] != "Jack" {
 		t.Error("Received incorrect name")
 	}
@@ -281,7 +253,7 @@ func TestSelectRow(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Error("Null value should have been present in map as nil")
 	}
 
-	_, err = conn.SelectRow("select 'Jack' as name where 1=2")
+	_, err := conn.SelectRow("select 'Jack' as name where 1=2")
 	if _, ok := err.(NotSingleRowError); !ok {
 		t.Error("No matching row should have returned NotSingleRowError")
 	}
@@ -476,9 +448,7 @@ func TestTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Transaction happy path -- it executes function and commits
 	committed, err = conn.Transaction(func() bool {
-		if _, err := conn.Execute("insert into foo(id) values (1)"); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Failed to insert into table: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustExecute(t, conn, "insert into foo(id) values (1)")
 		return true
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -489,24 +459,16 @@ func TestTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	var n interface{}
-	n, err = conn.SelectValue("select count(*) from foo")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error selecting value from foo: %v", err)
-	}
+	n = mustSelectValue(t, conn, "select count(*) from foo")
 	if n.(int64) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("Did not receive correct number of rows: %v", n)
 	}
 
-	_, err = conn.Execute("truncate foo")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error truncating foo: %v", err)
-	}
+	mustExecute(t, conn, "truncate foo")
 
 	// It rolls back when passed function returns false
 	committed, err = conn.Transaction(func() bool {
-		if _, err := conn.Execute("insert into foo(id) values (1)"); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Failed to insert into table: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustExecute(t, conn, "insert into foo(id) values (1)")
 		return false
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -515,19 +477,14 @@ func TestTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 	if committed {
 		t.Fatal("Transaction should not have been committed")
 	}
-	n, err = conn.SelectValue("select count(*) from foo")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error selecting value from foo: %v", err)
-	}
+	n = mustSelectValue(t, conn, "select count(*) from foo")
 	if n.(int64) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("Did not receive correct number of rows: %v", n)
 	}
 
 	// it rolls back changes when connection is in error state
 	committed, err = conn.Transaction(func() bool {
-		if _, err := conn.Execute("insert into foo(id) values (1)"); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Failed to insert into table: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustExecute(t, conn, "insert into foo(id) values (1)")
 		if _, err := conn.Execute("invalid"); err == nil {
 			t.Fatal("Execute was supposed to error but didn't")
 		}
@@ -539,22 +496,15 @@ func TestTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 	if committed {
 		t.Fatal("Transaction was committed when it shouldn't have been")
 	}
-	n, err = conn.SelectValue("select count(*) from foo")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error selecting value from foo: %v", err)
-	}
+	n = mustSelectValue(t, conn, "select count(*) from foo")
 	if n.(int64) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("Did not receive correct number of rows: %v", n)
 	}
 
 	// when commit fails
 	committed, err = conn.Transaction(func() bool {
-		if _, err := conn.Execute("insert into foo(id) values (1)"); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Failed to insert into table: %v", err)
-		}
-		if _, err := conn.Execute("insert into foo(id) values (1)"); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Failed to insert into table: %v", err)
-		}
+		mustExecute(t, conn, "insert into foo(id) values (1)")
+		mustExecute(t, conn, "insert into foo(id) values (1)")
 		return true
 	})
 	if err == nil {
@@ -564,10 +514,7 @@ func TestTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("Transaction was committed when it should have failed")
 	}
 
-	n, err = conn.SelectValue("select count(*) from foo")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error selecting value from foo: %v", err)
-	}
+	n = mustSelectValue(t, conn, "select count(*) from foo")
 	if n.(int64) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("Did not receive correct number of rows: %v", n)
 	}
@@ -579,17 +526,11 @@ func TestTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 		}()
 
 		committed, err = conn.Transaction(func() bool {
-			if _, err := conn.Execute("insert into foo(id) values (1)"); err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("Failed to insert into table: %v", err)
-			}
+			mustExecute(t, conn, "insert into foo(id) values (1)")
 			panic("stop!")
-			return true
 		})
 
-		n, err = conn.SelectValue("select count(*) from foo")
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Unexpected error selecting value from foo: %v", err)
-		}
+		n = mustSelectValue(t, conn, "select count(*) from foo")
 		if n.(int64) != 0 {
 			t.Fatalf("Did not receive correct number of rows: %v", n)
 		}
diff --git a/helper_test.go b/helper_test.go
index bc2eb945..4e429e66 100644
--- a/helper_test.go
+++ b/helper_test.go
@@ -9,3 +9,35 @@ func mustPrepare(t test, conn *Connection, name, sql string) {
 		t.Fatalf("Could not prepare %v: %v", name, err)
 	}
 }
+
+func mustExecute(t test, conn *Connection, sql string, arguments ...interface{}) (commandTag string) {
+	var err error
+	if commandTag, err = conn.Execute(sql, arguments...); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Execute unexpectedly failed with %v: %v", sql, err)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+func mustSelectRow(t test, conn *Connection, sql string, arguments ...interface{}) (row map[string]interface{}) {
+	var err error
+	if row, err = conn.SelectRow(sql, arguments...); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SelectRow unexpectedly failed with %v: %v", sql, err)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+func mustSelectRows(t test, conn *Connection, sql string, arguments ...interface{}) (rows []map[string]interface{}) {
+	var err error
+	if rows, err = conn.SelectRows(sql, arguments...); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SelectRows unexpected failed with %v: %v", sql, err)
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+func mustSelectValue(t test, conn *Connection, sql string, arguments ...interface{}) (value interface{}) {
+	var err error
+	if value, err = conn.SelectValue(sql, arguments...); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SelectValue unexpectedly failed with %v: %v", sql, err)
+	}
+	return
+}