diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/soundd.py b/selfdrive/ui/soundd.py
index 101118967..a10811f6f 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/soundd.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/soundd.py
@@ -192,7 +192,11 @@ class Soundd:
       if length <= 0:
         cloudlog.warning(f"soundd: empty audio {path}, skipping")
         return None
-      sound = np.frombuffer(wavefile.readframes(length), dtype=np.int16).astype(np.float32) / (2**16/2)
+      raw = wavefile.readframes(length)
+      if len(raw) < 2 or (len(raw) % 2) != 0:
+        cloudlog.warning(f"soundd: truncated audio {path}, skipping")
+        return None
+      sound = np.frombuffer(raw, dtype=np.int16).astype(np.float32) / (2**16/2)
       if sound.size == 0:
         cloudlog.warning(f"soundd: empty audio {path}, skipping")
         return None
@@ -208,7 +212,7 @@ class Soundd:
       for path in self._sound_candidates(filename):
         try:
           sound_data = self._read_sound(path)
-        except (FileNotFoundError, OSError, EOFError, wave.Error):
+        except (FileNotFoundError, OSError, EOFError, ValueError, wave.Error):
           cloudlog.exception(f"soundd: failed to load {path}")
           continue
         if sound_data is not None:
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_soundd.py b/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_soundd.py
index 52e81fb2b..4b35c2f92 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_soundd.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_soundd.py
@@ -106,6 +106,26 @@ class TestSoundd:
     assert AudibleAlert.warningImmediate in soundd.loaded_sounds
     assert soundd.loaded_sounds[AudibleAlert.warningImmediate].size > 0
 
+  def test_load_sounds_falls_back_when_custom_wav_has_odd_payload(self, tmp_path):
+    soundd = Soundd.__new__(Soundd)
+    soundd.sound_directory = tmp_path / "sounds"
+    soundd.sound_directory.mkdir()
+    soundd.random_events_directory = tmp_path / "random_events"
+    soundd.random_events_directory.mkdir()
+
+    odd = soundd.sound_directory / "warning_immediate.wav"
+    with wave.open(str(odd), "w") as wav:
+      wav.setnchannels(1)
+      wav.setsampwidth(2)
+      wav.setframerate(48000)
+      wav.writeframes(b"\x00\x00\x00\x00")
+    odd.write_bytes(odd.read_bytes()[:-1])
+
+    soundd.load_sounds()
+
+    assert AudibleAlert.warningImmediate in soundd.loaded_sounds
+    assert soundd.loaded_sounds[AudibleAlert.warningImmediate].size > 0
+
   def test_missing_goat_keeps_stock_critical_alert(self, tmp_path):
     soundd = Soundd.__new__(Soundd)
     soundd.sound_directory = tmp_path / "sounds"