      */
     public function isSymbol (className :String) :Boolean
     {
-        if (!checkLoaded()) {
-            throw new IllegalOperationError("SWF has not completed loading");
-        }
+        checkLoaded();
         return _loader.contentLoaderInfo.applicationDomain.hasDefinition(className);
     }
 
     /**
-     * Returns true if we've completed loaded the swf.
+     * Validate that the load operation is complete.
      */
-    protected function checkLoaded () :Boolean
+    protected function checkLoaded () :void
     {
         var loaderInfo :LoaderInfo = _loader.contentLoaderInfo;
-        return !(loaderInfo.bytesTotal == 0 || loaderInfo.bytesLoaded != loaderInfo.bytesTotal);
+        if (loaderInfo.bytesTotal == 0 || loaderInfo.bytesLoaded != loaderInfo.bytesTotal) {
+
+            throw new IllegalOperationError("SWF has not completed loading");
+        }
     }
 
     protected var _loader :Loader;

     */
    public function getSymbol (symbolName :String) :Object
    {
        if (!checkLoaded()) {
            throw new IllegalOperationError("SWF has not completed loading");
        }
        try {
            return _loader.contentLoaderInfo.applicationDomain.getDefinition(symbolName);
        } catch (e: Error) {

    }

    /**
     * Get the top-level display object defined in the loaded SWF.
     */
    public function getContent () :DisplayObject
    {
        checkLoaded();
        return _loader.content;
    }

    /**
     * Retrieves a class definition from the loaded swf.
     *
     * @throws IllegalOperationError when the swf has not completed loading or the class does
