diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/filedict.py b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/filedict.py
index bfcf42e9..006fa73a 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/filedict.py
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/filedict.py
@@ -35,3 +35,6 @@ class FileDict:
                 return marshal.load(f)
         except FileNotFoundError:
             return {}
+        except Exception:
+            logging.warning("corrupt marshal data at: %r", self.path)
+            return {}
diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_filedict.py b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_filedict.py
index 0f585349..81802cda 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_filedict.py
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_filedict.py
@@ -22,3 +22,10 @@ def test_dying_lock(tmp_path, caplog):
         d["1"] = "3"
     assert fdict1.read()["1"] == "3"
     assert fdict2.read()["1"] == "3"
+
+
+def test_bad_marshal_file(tmp_path, caplog):
+    fdict1 = FileDict(tmp_path.joinpath("metadata"))
+    fdict1.path.write_bytes(b"l12k3l12k3l")
+    assert fdict1.read() == {}
+    assert "corrupt" in caplog.records[0].msg