diff --git a/src/sysrepo_access.cpp b/src/sysrepo_access.cpp
index b01b484..221f482 100644
--- a/src/sysrepo_access.cpp
+++ b/src/sysrepo_access.cpp
@@ -39,11 +39,11 @@
     case SR_DECIMAL64_T:
         return value->data()->get_decimal64();
     case SR_CONTAINER_T:
-        return "(container)"s;
+        return special_{SpecialValue::Container};
     case SR_CONTAINER_PRESENCE_T:
-        return "(presence container)"s;
+        return special_{SpecialValue::PresenceContainer};
     case SR_LIST_T:
-        return "(list)"s;
+        return special_{SpecialValue::List};
     default: // TODO: implement all types
         return value->val_to_string();
     }
@@ -66,6 +66,11 @@
         return std::make_shared<sysrepo::Val>(res.c_str(), SR_IDENTITYREF_T);
     }
 
+    sysrepo::S_Val operator()(const special_& value) const
+    {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Tried constructing S_Val from a " + specialValueToString(value));
+    }
+
     sysrepo::S_Val operator()(const std::string& value) const
     {
         return std::make_shared<sysrepo::Val>(value.c_str());