diff --git a/libp2p/pubsub/pubsub.py b/libp2p/pubsub/pubsub.py
index dd51be2..37eb932 100644
--- a/libp2p/pubsub/pubsub.py
+++ b/libp2p/pubsub/pubsub.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Awaitable, Callable, Dict, List, NamedTup
 
 from lru import LRU
 
+from libp2p.exceptions import ValidationError
 from libp2p.host.host_interface import IHost
 from libp2p.network.stream.net_stream_interface import INetStream
 from libp2p.peer.id import ID
@@ -364,7 +365,7 @@ class Pubsub:
 
         await self.push_msg(self.host.get_id(), msg)
 
-    async def validate_msg(self, msg_forwarder: ID, msg: rpc_pb2.Message) -> bool:
+    async def validate_msg(self, msg_forwarder: ID, msg: rpc_pb2.Message) -> None:
         """
         Validate the received message
         :param msg_forwarder: the peer who forward us the message.
@@ -380,15 +381,14 @@ class Pubsub:
 
         for validator in sync_topic_validators:
             if not validator(msg_forwarder, msg):
-                return False
+                raise ValidationError(f"Validation failed for msg={msg}")
 
         # TODO: Implement throttle on async validators
 
         if len(async_topic_validator_futures) > 0:
             results = await asyncio.gather(*async_topic_validator_futures)
-            return all(results)
-        else:
-            return True
+            if not all(results):
+                raise ValidationError(f"Validation failed for msg={msg}")
 
     async def push_msg(self, msg_forwarder: ID, msg: rpc_pb2.Message) -> None:
         """
@@ -414,8 +414,10 @@ class Pubsub:
             return
         # Validate the message with registered topic validators.
         # If the validation failed, return(i.e., don't further process the message).
-        is_validation_passed = await self.validate_msg(msg_forwarder, msg)
-        if not is_validation_passed:
+        try:
+            await self.validate_msg(msg_forwarder, msg)
+        except ValidationError:
+            log.debug(f"Topic validation failed for msg={msg}")
             return
 
         self._mark_msg_seen(msg)
diff --git a/tests/pubsub/test_pubsub.py b/tests/pubsub/test_pubsub.py
index ad9dd43..0799c34 100644
--- a/tests/pubsub/test_pubsub.py
+++ b/tests/pubsub/test_pubsub.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from typing import NamedTuple
 
 import pytest
 
+from libp2p.exceptions import ValidationError
 from libp2p.peer.id import ID
 from libp2p.pubsub.pb import rpc_pb2
 from tests.utils import connect
@@ -191,13 +192,13 @@ async def test_validate_msg(pubsubs_fsub, is_topic_1_val_passed, is_topic_2_val_
         return True
 
     def failed_sync_validator(peer_id, msg):
-        return False
+        raise ValidationError()
 
     async def passed_async_validator(peer_id, msg):
         return True
 
     async def failed_async_validator(peer_id, msg):
-        return False
+        raise ValidationError()
 
     topic_1 = "TEST_SYNC_VALIDATOR"
     topic_2 = "TEST_ASYNC_VALIDATOR"
@@ -219,12 +220,11 @@ async def test_validate_msg(pubsubs_fsub, is_topic_1_val_passed, is_topic_2_val_
         seqno=b"\x00" * 8,
     )
 
-    is_validation_passed = await pubsubs_fsub[0].validate_msg(pubsubs_fsub[0].my_id, msg)
-
     if is_topic_1_val_passed and is_topic_2_val_passed:
-        assert is_validation_passed
+        await pubsubs_fsub[0].validate_msg(pubsubs_fsub[0].my_id, msg)
     else:
-        assert not is_validation_passed
+        with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
+            await pubsubs_fsub[0].validate_msg(pubsubs_fsub[0].my_id, msg)
 
 
 class FakeNetStream: