diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/MappingMetaData.java b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/MappingMetaData.java
index 1f6aeb11220..83a06d9c4ca 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/MappingMetaData.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/metadata/MappingMetaData.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 package org.elasticsearch.cluster.metadata;
 
+import org.elasticsearch.ElasticsearchParseException;
 import org.elasticsearch.Version;
 import org.elasticsearch.cluster.AbstractDiffable;
 import org.elasticsearch.cluster.Diff;
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ public class MappingMetaData extends AbstractDiffable<MappingMetaData> {
     /**
      * Converts the serialized compressed form of the mappings into a parsed map.
      */
-    public Map<String, Object> sourceAsMap() throws IOException {
+    public Map<String, Object> sourceAsMap() throws ElasticsearchParseException {
         Map<String, Object> mapping = XContentHelper.convertToMap(source.compressedReference(), true).v2();
         if (mapping.size() == 1 && mapping.containsKey(type())) {
             // the type name is the root value, reduce it
@@ -182,7 +183,7 @@ public class MappingMetaData extends AbstractDiffable<MappingMetaData> {
     /**
      * Converts the serialized compressed form of the mappings into a parsed map.
      */
-    public Map<String, Object> getSourceAsMap() throws IOException {
+    public Map<String, Object> getSourceAsMap() throws ElasticsearchParseException {
         return sourceAsMap();
     }
 
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/indices/state/RareClusterStateIT.java b/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/indices/state/RareClusterStateIT.java
index f138afe35b0..805fcb4d501 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/indices/state/RareClusterStateIT.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/indices/state/RareClusterStateIT.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 package org.elasticsearch.indices.state;
 
+import org.elasticsearch.ElasticsearchParseException;
 import org.elasticsearch.Version;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.ActionListener;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.admin.indices.mapping.put.PutMappingResponse;
@@ -274,7 +275,7 @@ public class RareClusterStateIT extends ESIntegTestCase {
             Object properties;
             try {
                 properties = typeMappings.getSourceAsMap().get("properties");
-            } catch (IOException e) {
+            } catch (ElasticsearchParseException e) {
                 throw new AssertionError(e);
             }
             assertNotNull(properties);