diff --git a/fastkml/helpers.py b/fastkml/helpers.py
index 1b3d582e..85a888e8 100644
--- a/fastkml/helpers.py
+++ b/fastkml/helpers.py
@@ -1100,15 +1100,16 @@ def datetime_subelement_kwarg(
         return {}
     node_text = node.text.strip() if node.text else ""
     if node_text:
-        if kdt := cls.parse(node_text):  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
-            return {kwarg: kdt}
-        handle_error(
-            error=ValueError(f"Invalid DateTime value: {node_text}"),
-            strict=strict,
-            element=element,
-            node=node,
-            expected="DateTime",
-        )
+        try:
+            return {kwarg: cls.parse(node_text)}  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+        except ValueError as exc:
+            handle_error(
+                error=exc,
+                strict=strict,
+                element=element,
+                node=node,
+                expected="DateTime",
+            )
     return {}
 
 
diff --git a/tests/times_test.py b/tests/times_test.py
index 3b52e9ff..2b96978a 100644
--- a/tests/times_test.py
+++ b/tests/times_test.py
@@ -200,11 +200,19 @@ def test_parse_datetime_no_tz(self) -> None:
         assert dt.dt == datetime.datetime(1997, 7, 16, 7, 30, 15, tzinfo=tzutc())
 
     def test_parse_datetime_empty(self) -> None:
-        assert KmlDateTime.parse("") is None
+        with pytest.raises(
+            ValueError,
+            match="^Could not match input '' to any of the following formats:",
+        ):
+            KmlDateTime.parse("")
 
     def test_parse_year_month_5(self) -> None:
         """Test that a single digit month is invalid."""
-        assert KmlDateTime.parse("19973") is None
+        with pytest.raises(
+            ValueError,
+            match="^Could not match input '19973' to any of the following formats:",
+        ):
+            KmlDateTime.parse("19973")
 
 
 class TestStdLibrary(StdLibrary):