diff --git a/nimterop/utils.nim b/nimterop/utils.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..025256a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimterop/utils.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import compiler/[ast, lineinfos, msgs, options, parser, renderer]
+
+import "."/[globals, getters]
+
+proc handleError*(conf: ConfigRef, info: TLineInfo, msg: TMsgKind, arg: string) =
+  # Raise exception in parseString() instead of exiting for errors
+  if msg < warnMin:
+    raise newException(Exception, msgKindToString(msg))
+
+proc parseString*(nimState: NimState, str: string): PNode =
+  # Parse a string into Nim AST - use custom error handler that raises
+  # an exception rather than exiting on failure
+  try:
+    result = parseString(
+      str, nimState.identCache, nimState.config, errorHandler = handleError
+    )
+  except:
+    decho getCurrentExceptionMsg()
\ No newline at end of file