diff --git a/tuf/data/types.go b/tuf/data/types.go
index 2a61b3f561..a664e0d9b1 100644
--- a/tuf/data/types.go
+++ b/tuf/data/types.go
@@ -141,13 +141,13 @@ func CheckHashes(payload []byte, hashes Hashes) error {
 		case notary.SHA256:
 			checksum := sha256.Sum256(payload)
 			if subtle.ConstantTimeCompare(checksum[:], v) == 0 {
-				return fmt.Errorf("%s checksum mismatched", k)
+				return ErrMismatchedChecksum{alg: notary.SHA256}
 			}
 			cnt++
 		case notary.SHA512:
 			checksum := sha512.Sum512(payload)
 			if subtle.ConstantTimeCompare(checksum[:], v) == 0 {
-				return fmt.Errorf("%s checksum mismatched", k)
+				return ErrMismatchedChecksum{alg: notary.SHA512}
 			}
 			cnt++
 		}
@@ -169,12 +169,12 @@ func CheckValidHashStructures(hashes Hashes) error {
 		switch k {
 		case notary.SHA256:
 			if len(v) != sha256.Size {
-				return fmt.Errorf("invalid %s checksum", notary.SHA256)
+				return ErrInvalidChecksum{alg: notary.SHA256}
 			}
 			cnt++
 		case notary.SHA512:
 			if len(v) != sha512.Size {
-				return fmt.Errorf("invalid %s checksum", notary.SHA512)
+				return ErrInvalidChecksum{alg: notary.SHA512}
 			}
 			cnt++
 		}