diff --git a/crates/ere-jolt/src/error.rs b/crates/ere-jolt/src/error.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be6c073
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ere-jolt/src/error.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+use zkvm_interface::zkVMError;
+
+impl From<JoltError> for zkVMError {
+    fn from(value: JoltError) -> Self {
+        zkVMError::Other(Box::new(value))
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
+pub enum JoltError {
+    #[error("Proof verification failed")]
+    ProofVerificationFailed,
+}
diff --git a/crates/ere-jolt/src/lib.rs b/crates/ere-jolt/src/lib.rs
index 5f42809..cbaa0ca 100644
--- a/crates/ere-jolt/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ere-jolt/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use error::JoltError;
 use jolt_core::host::Program;
 use jolt_methods::{preprocess_prover, preprocess_verifier, prove_generic, verify_generic};
 use jolt_sdk::host::DEFAULT_TARGET_DIR;
@@ -7,20 +8,16 @@ use utils::{
 };
 use zkvm_interface::{
     Compiler, Input, ProgramExecutionReport, ProgramProvingReport, ProverResourceType, zkVM,
+    zkVMError,
 };
 
+mod error;
 mod jolt_methods;
 mod utils;
 
 #[allow(non_camel_case_types)]
 pub struct JOLT_TARGET;
 
-#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
-pub enum JoltError {
-    #[error("Proof verification failed")]
-    ProofVerificationFailed,
-}
-
 impl Compiler for JOLT_TARGET {
     type Error = JoltError;
 
@@ -53,12 +50,10 @@ impl EreJolt {
     }
 }
 impl zkVM for EreJolt {
-    type Error = JoltError;
-
     fn execute(
         &self,
         inputs: &zkvm_interface::Input,
-    ) -> Result<zkvm_interface::ProgramExecutionReport, Self::Error> {
+    ) -> Result<zkvm_interface::ProgramExecutionReport, zkVMError> {
         // TODO: check ProgramSummary
         let summary = self
             .program
@@ -72,7 +67,7 @@ impl zkVM for EreJolt {
     fn prove(
         &self,
         inputs: &zkvm_interface::Input,
-    ) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, zkvm_interface::ProgramProvingReport), Self::Error> {
+    ) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, zkvm_interface::ProgramProvingReport), zkVMError> {
         // TODO: make this stateful and do in setup since its expensive and should be done once per program;
         let preprocessed_key = preprocess_prover(&self.program);
 
@@ -86,7 +81,7 @@ impl zkVM for EreJolt {
         Ok((proof_with_public_inputs, ProgramProvingReport::new(elapsed)))
     }
 
-    fn verify(&self, proof_with_public_inputs: &[u8]) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    fn verify(&self, proof_with_public_inputs: &[u8]) -> Result<(), zkVMError> {
         let preprocessed_verifier = preprocess_verifier(&self.program);
         let (public_inputs, proof) =
             deserialize_public_input_with_proof(proof_with_public_inputs).unwrap();
@@ -102,7 +97,7 @@ impl zkVM for EreJolt {
         if valid {
             Ok(())
         } else {
-            Err(JoltError::ProofVerificationFailed)
+            Err(JoltError::ProofVerificationFailed).map_err(zkVMError::from)
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/ere-openvm/src/error.rs b/crates/ere-openvm/src/error.rs
index 5f32748..c21a4df 100644
--- a/crates/ere-openvm/src/error.rs
+++ b/crates/ere-openvm/src/error.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
 use thiserror::Error;
+use zkvm_interface::zkVMError;
+
+impl From<OpenVMError> for zkVMError {
+    fn from(value: OpenVMError) -> Self {
+        zkVMError::Other(Box::new(value))
+    }
+}
 
 #[derive(Debug, Error)]
 pub enum OpenVMError {
diff --git a/crates/ere-openvm/src/lib.rs b/crates/ere-openvm/src/lib.rs
index f5721eb..f47f356 100644
--- a/crates/ere-openvm/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ere-openvm/src/lib.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use openvm_stark_sdk::config::{
 };
 use openvm_transpiler::elf::Elf;
 use zkvm_interface::{
-    Compiler, ProgramExecutionReport, ProgramProvingReport, ProverResourceType, zkVM,
+    Compiler, ProgramExecutionReport, ProgramProvingReport, ProverResourceType, zkVM, zkVMError,
 };
 
 mod error;
@@ -56,12 +56,10 @@ impl EreOpenVM {
     }
 }
 impl zkVM for EreOpenVM {
-    type Error = OpenVMError;
-
     fn execute(
         &self,
         inputs: &zkvm_interface::Input,
-    ) -> Result<zkvm_interface::ProgramExecutionReport, Self::Error> {
+    ) -> Result<zkvm_interface::ProgramExecutionReport, zkVMError> {
         let sdk = Sdk::new();
         let vm_cfg = SdkVmConfig::builder()
             .system(Default::default())
@@ -72,7 +70,8 @@ impl zkVM for EreOpenVM {
 
         let exe = sdk
             .transpile(self.program.clone(), vm_cfg.transpiler())
-            .map_err(|e| CompileError::Client(e.into()))?;
+            .map_err(|e| CompileError::Client(e.into()))
+            .map_err(OpenVMError::from)?;
 
         let mut stdin = StdIn::default();
         for input in inputs.chunked_iter() {
@@ -81,7 +80,8 @@ impl zkVM for EreOpenVM {
 
         let _outputs = sdk
             .execute(exe.clone(), vm_cfg.clone(), stdin)
-            .map_err(|e| CompileError::Client(e.into()))?;
+            .map_err(|e| CompileError::Client(e.into()))
+            .map_err(OpenVMError::from)?;
 
         Ok(ProgramExecutionReport::default())
     }
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ impl zkVM for EreOpenVM {
     fn prove(
         &self,
         inputs: &zkvm_interface::Input,
-    ) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, zkvm_interface::ProgramProvingReport), Self::Error> {
+    ) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, zkvm_interface::ProgramProvingReport), zkVMError> {
         // TODO: We need a stateful version in order to not spend a lot of time
         // TODO doing things like computing the pk and vk.
 
@@ -103,7 +103,8 @@ impl zkVM for EreOpenVM {
 
         let app_exe = sdk
             .transpile(self.program.clone(), vm_cfg.transpiler())
-            .map_err(|e| CompileError::Client(e.into()))?;
+            .map_err(|e| CompileError::Client(e.into()))
+            .map_err(OpenVMError::from)?;
 
         let mut stdin = StdIn::default();
         for input in inputs.chunked_iter() {
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ impl zkVM for EreOpenVM {
         Ok((proof_bytes, ProgramProvingReport::new(elapsed)))
     }
 
-    fn verify(&self, mut proof: &[u8]) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    fn verify(&self, mut proof: &[u8]) -> Result<(), zkVMError> {
         let sdk = Sdk::new();
         let vm_cfg = SdkVmConfig::builder()
             .system(Default::default())
@@ -150,6 +151,7 @@ impl zkVM for EreOpenVM {
         sdk.verify_app_proof(&app_vk, &proof)
             .map(|_payload| ())
             .map_err(|e| OpenVMError::Verify(VerifyError::Client(e.into())))
+            .map_err(zkVMError::from)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/ere-pico/src/error.rs b/crates/ere-pico/src/error.rs
index 0bbd52c..3eb1096 100644
--- a/crates/ere-pico/src/error.rs
+++ b/crates/ere-pico/src/error.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 use std::{io, path::PathBuf, process::ExitStatus};
 use thiserror::Error;
+use zkvm_interface::zkVMError;
+
+impl From<PicoError> for zkVMError {
+    fn from(value: PicoError) -> Self {
+        zkVMError::Other(Box::new(value))
+    }
+}
 
 #[derive(Debug, Error)]
 pub enum PicoError {
diff --git a/crates/ere-pico/src/lib.rs b/crates/ere-pico/src/lib.rs
index bbd3bd0..eb21080 100644
--- a/crates/ere-pico/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ere-pico/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use pico_sdk::client::DefaultProverClient;
 use std::process::Command;
-use zkvm_interface::{Compiler, ProgramProvingReport, ProverResourceType, zkVM};
+use zkvm_interface::{Compiler, ProgramProvingReport, ProverResourceType, zkVM, zkVMError};
 
 mod error;
 use error::PicoError;
@@ -62,19 +62,17 @@ impl ErePico {
     }
 }
 impl zkVM for ErePico {
-    type Error = PicoError;
-
     fn execute(
         &self,
         _inputs: &zkvm_interface::Input,
-    ) -> Result<zkvm_interface::ProgramExecutionReport, Self::Error> {
+    ) -> Result<zkvm_interface::ProgramExecutionReport, zkVMError> {
         todo!("pico currently does not have an execute method exposed via the SDK")
     }
 
     fn prove(
         &self,
         inputs: &zkvm_interface::Input,
-    ) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, zkvm_interface::ProgramProvingReport), Self::Error> {
+    ) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, zkvm_interface::ProgramProvingReport), zkVMError> {
         let client = DefaultProverClient::new(&self.program);
 
         let mut stdin = client.new_stdin_builder();
@@ -103,7 +101,7 @@ impl zkVM for ErePico {
         Ok((proof_serialized, ProgramProvingReport::new(elapsed)))
     }
 
-    fn verify(&self, _proof: &[u8]) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    fn verify(&self, _proof: &[u8]) -> Result<(), zkVMError> {
         let client = DefaultProverClient::new(&self.program);
 
         let _vk = client.riscv_vk();
diff --git a/crates/ere-sp1/src/error.rs b/crates/ere-sp1/src/error.rs
index 9310e91..b69c9d8 100644
--- a/crates/ere-sp1/src/error.rs
+++ b/crates/ere-sp1/src/error.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 use std::{path::PathBuf, process::ExitStatus};
 
 use thiserror::Error;
+use zkvm_interface::zkVMError;
+
+impl From<SP1Error> for zkVMError {
+    fn from(value: SP1Error) -> Self {
+        zkVMError::Other(Box::new(value))
+    }
+}
 
 #[derive(Debug, Error)]
 pub enum SP1Error {
diff --git a/crates/ere-sp1/src/lib.rs b/crates/ere-sp1/src/lib.rs
index a354333..46e3d0d 100644
--- a/crates/ere-sp1/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ere-sp1/src/lib.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use sp1_sdk::{
 };
 use tracing::info;
 use zkvm_interface::{
-    Compiler, ProgramExecutionReport, ProgramProvingReport, ProverResourceType, zkVM,
+    Compiler, ProgramExecutionReport, ProgramProvingReport, ProverResourceType, zkVM, zkVMError,
 };
 
 mod compile;
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ impl ProverType {
         &self,
         program: &<RV32_IM_SUCCINCT_ZKVM_ELF as Compiler>::Program,
         input: &SP1Stdin,
-    ) -> Result<(sp1_sdk::SP1PublicValues, sp1_sdk::ExecutionReport), ExecuteError> {
+    ) -> Result<(sp1_sdk::SP1PublicValues, sp1_sdk::ExecutionReport), SP1Error> {
         let cpu_executor_builder = match self {
             ProverType::Cpu(cpu_prover) => cpu_prover.execute(program, input),
             ProverType::Gpu(cuda_prover) => cuda_prover.execute(program, input),
@@ -43,25 +43,25 @@ impl ProverType {
 
         cpu_executor_builder
             .run()
-            .map_err(|e| ExecuteError::Client(e.into()))
+            .map_err(|e| SP1Error::Execute(ExecuteError::Client(e.into())))
     }
     fn prove(
         &self,
         pk: &SP1ProvingKey,
         input: &SP1Stdin,
-    ) -> Result<SP1ProofWithPublicValues, ProveError> {
+    ) -> Result<SP1ProofWithPublicValues, SP1Error> {
         match self {
             ProverType::Cpu(cpu_prover) => cpu_prover.prove(pk, input).core().run(),
             ProverType::Gpu(cuda_prover) => cuda_prover.prove(pk, input).core().run(),
         }
-        .map_err(|e| ProveError::Client(e.into()))
+        .map_err(|e| SP1Error::Prove(ProveError::Client(e.into())))
     }
 
     fn verify(
         &self,
         proof: &SP1ProofWithPublicValues,
         vk: &SP1VerifyingKey,
-    ) -> Result<(), error::SP1Error> {
+    ) -> Result<(), SP1Error> {
         match self {
             ProverType::Cpu(cpu_prover) => cpu_prover.verify(proof, vk),
             ProverType::Gpu(cuda_prover) => cuda_prover.verify(proof, vk),
@@ -113,12 +113,10 @@ impl EreSP1 {
 }
 
 impl zkVM for EreSP1 {
-    type Error = SP1Error;
-
     fn execute(
         &self,
         inputs: &zkvm_interface::Input,
-    ) -> Result<zkvm_interface::ProgramExecutionReport, Self::Error> {
+    ) -> Result<zkvm_interface::ProgramExecutionReport, zkVMError> {
         let mut stdin = SP1Stdin::new();
         for input in inputs.chunked_iter() {
             stdin.write_slice(input);
@@ -138,7 +136,7 @@ impl zkVM for EreSP1 {
     fn prove(
         &self,
         inputs: &zkvm_interface::Input,
-    ) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, zkvm_interface::ProgramProvingReport), Self::Error> {
+    ) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, zkvm_interface::ProgramProvingReport), zkVMError> {
         info!("Generating proof…");
 
         let mut stdin = SP1Stdin::new();
@@ -156,7 +154,7 @@ impl zkVM for EreSP1 {
         Ok((bytes, ProgramProvingReport::new(proving_time)))
     }
 
-    fn verify(&self, proof: &[u8]) -> Result<(), Self::Error> {
+    fn verify(&self, proof: &[u8]) -> Result<(), zkVMError> {
         info!("Verifying proof…");
 
         let proof: SP1ProofWithPublicValues = bincode::deserialize(proof)
@@ -164,7 +162,7 @@ impl zkVM for EreSP1 {
 
         self.client
             .verify(&proof, &self.vk)
-            .map_err(|e| SP1Error::Verify(VerifyError::Client(e.into())))
+            .map_err(zkVMError::from)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/zkvm-interface/src/lib.rs b/crates/zkvm-interface/src/lib.rs
index 794cbfd..a5687ee 100644
--- a/crates/zkvm-interface/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/zkvm-interface/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use indexmap::IndexMap;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::{path::Path, time::Duration};
+use thiserror::Error;
 
 mod input;
 pub use input::Input;
@@ -23,25 +24,37 @@ pub enum ProverResourceType {
     Gpu,
 }
 
+/// An error that can occur during prove, execute or verification
+/// of a zkVM.
+///
+/// Note: We use a concrete error type here, so that downstream crates
+/// can do patterns such as Vec<dyn zkVM>
+#[allow(non_camel_case_types)]
+#[derive(Debug, Error)]
+pub enum zkVMError {
+    // TODO: We can add more variants as time goes by.
+    // TODO: for now, we use this catch-all as a way to prototype faster
+    #[error(transparent)]
+    Other(#[from] Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync + 'static>),
+}
+
 #[allow(non_camel_case_types)]
 #[auto_impl::auto_impl(&, Arc, Box)]
 /// zkVM trait to abstract away the differences between each zkVM
 pub trait zkVM {
-    type Error: std::error::Error + Send + Sync + 'static;
-
     /// Executes the given program with the inputs accumulated in the Input struct.
     /// For RISCV programs, `program_bytes` will be the ELF binary
-    fn execute(&self, inputs: &Input) -> Result<ProgramExecutionReport, Self::Error>;
+    fn execute(&self, inputs: &Input) -> Result<ProgramExecutionReport, zkVMError>;
 
     /// Creates a proof for a given program
-    fn prove(&self, inputs: &Input) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, ProgramProvingReport), Self::Error>;
+    fn prove(&self, inputs: &Input) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, ProgramProvingReport), zkVMError>;
 
     /// Verifies a proof for the given program
     /// TODO: Pass public inputs too and check that they match if they come with the
     /// TODO: proof, or append them if they do not.
     /// TODO: We can also just have this return the public inputs, but then the user needs
     /// TODO: ensure they check it for correct #[must_use]
-    fn verify(&self, proof: &[u8]) -> Result<(), Self::Error>;
+    fn verify(&self, proof: &[u8]) -> Result<(), zkVMError>;
 }
 
 /// ProgramExecutionReport produces information about a particular program