diff --git a/crates/fidc-core/src/platform_strategy_spec.rs b/crates/fidc-core/src/platform_strategy_spec.rs
index e244c16..4217e44 100644
--- a/crates/fidc-core/src/platform_strategy_spec.rs
+++ b/crates/fidc-core/src/platform_strategy_spec.rs
@@ -369,17 +369,18 @@ pub fn platform_expr_config_from_value(
     value: &Value,
 ) -> Result<PlatformExprStrategyConfig, serde_json::Error> {
     if value.is_null() || value.as_object().is_some_and(|object| object.is_empty()) {
-        return Ok(platform_expr_config_from_spec(
-            strategy_id,
-            signal_symbol,
-            None,
-        ));
+        return platform_expr_config_from_spec(strategy_id, signal_symbol, None)
+            .map_err(platform_config_error);
     }
     let spec = serde_json::from_value::<StrategyRuntimeSpec>(value.clone())?;
-    Ok(platform_expr_config_from_spec(
-        strategy_id,
-        signal_symbol,
-        Some(&spec),
+    platform_expr_config_from_spec(strategy_id, signal_symbol, Some(&spec))
+        .map_err(platform_config_error)
+}
+
+fn platform_config_error(message: String) -> serde_json::Error {
+    serde_json::Error::io(std::io::Error::new(
+        std::io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+        message,
     ))
 }
 
@@ -418,12 +419,17 @@ fn normalize_model_name(value: &str) -> String {
     value.trim().to_ascii_lowercase().replace('-', "_")
 }
 
-fn parse_matching_type(value: Option<&str>) -> Option<MatchingType> {
-    match normalize_model_name(value?).as_str() {
-        "current_bar_close" => Some(MatchingType::CurrentBarClose),
-        "next_bar_open" => Some(MatchingType::NextBarOpen),
-        "minute_last" => Some(MatchingType::MinuteLast),
-        _ => None,
+fn parse_matching_type(value: Option<&str>) -> Result<Option<MatchingType>, String> {
+    let Some(raw) = value.map(str::trim).filter(|item| !item.is_empty()) else {
+        return Ok(None);
+    };
+    match normalize_model_name(raw).as_str() {
+        "current_bar_close" => Ok(Some(MatchingType::CurrentBarClose)),
+        "next_bar_open" => Ok(Some(MatchingType::NextBarOpen)),
+        "minute_last" => Ok(Some(MatchingType::MinuteLast)),
+        _ => Err(format!(
+            "matchingType only supports current_bar_close, next_bar_open, minute_last: {raw}"
+        )),
     }
 }
 
@@ -474,8 +480,8 @@ fn apply_execution_behavior_overrides(
     slippage_volatility_coefficient: Option<f64>,
     slippage_max_value: Option<f64>,
     strict_value_budget: Option<bool>,
-) {
-    if let Some(matching_type) = parse_matching_type(matching_type) {
+) -> Result<(), String> {
+    if let Some(matching_type) = parse_matching_type(matching_type)? {
         cfg.matching_type = matching_type;
     }
     if slippage_model.is_some()
@@ -497,6 +503,7 @@ fn apply_execution_behavior_overrides(
     if let Some(enabled) = strict_value_budget {
         cfg.strict_value_budget = enabled;
     }
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 fn parse_usize_after(text: &str, start: usize) -> Option<(usize, usize)> {
@@ -626,7 +633,7 @@ pub fn platform_expr_config_from_spec(
     strategy_id: &str,
     signal_symbol: &str,
     strategy_spec: Option<&StrategyRuntimeSpec>,
-) -> PlatformExprStrategyConfig {
+) -> Result<PlatformExprStrategyConfig, String> {
     let mut cfg = PlatformExprStrategyConfig::microcap_rotation();
     cfg.strategy_name = strategy_id.to_string();
     if !signal_symbol.trim().is_empty() {
@@ -634,7 +641,7 @@ pub fn platform_expr_config_from_spec(
     }
 
     let Some(spec) = strategy_spec else {
-        return cfg;
+        return Ok(cfg);
     };
     let mut benchmark_short_explicit = false;
     let mut benchmark_long_explicit = false;
@@ -751,7 +758,7 @@ pub fn platform_expr_config_from_spec(
             engine.slippage_volatility_coefficient,
             engine.slippage_max_value,
             engine.strict_value_budget,
-        );
+        )?;
     }
 
     if let Some(spec_signal_symbol) = spec
@@ -1151,7 +1158,7 @@ pub fn platform_expr_config_from_spec(
             execution.slippage_volatility_coefficient,
             execution.slippage_max_value,
             execution.strict_value_budget,
-        );
+        )?;
     }
     if cfg.aiquant_transaction_cost
         && cfg
@@ -1161,7 +1168,7 @@ pub fn platform_expr_config_from_spec(
         cfg.minimum_commission = None;
     }
 
-    cfg
+    Ok(cfg)
 }
 
 fn parse_platform_rebalance_schedule(
@@ -1706,9 +1713,15 @@ mod tests {
                 }
             });
 
-            let cfg = platform_expr_config_from_value("", "", &spec).expect("config");
+            let err =
+                platform_expr_config_from_value("", "", &spec).expect_err("invalid matchingType");
 
-            assert_eq!(cfg.matching_type, MatchingType::CurrentBarClose);
+            assert!(
+                err.to_string().contains(
+                    "matchingType only supports current_bar_close, next_bar_open, minute_last"
+                ),
+                "{err}"
+            );
         }
     }