diff --git a/src/icloudpd/xmp_sidecar.py b/src/icloudpd/xmp_sidecar.py
index b6131d7a2..97853bef0 100644
--- a/src/icloudpd/xmp_sidecar.py
+++ b/src/icloudpd/xmp_sidecar.py
@@ -104,14 +104,11 @@ def build_metadata(asset_record: dict[str, Any]) -> XMPMetadata:
         is_not_bplist = not_(startswith("YnBsaXN0MD"))
 
         if is_not_crdt(data_value) and is_not_bplist(data_value):  # not "crdt" and not "bplist00"
-            adjustments = json.loads(
-                zlib.decompress(
-                    base64.b64decode(asset_record["fields"]["adjustmentSimpleDataEnc"]["value"]),
-                    -zlib.MAX_WBITS,
-                )
+            adjustments = try_decompress_json(data_value)
+
+            orientation = (
+                adjustments.get("metadata", {}).get("orientation") if adjustments else None
             )
-            if "metadata" in adjustments and "orientation" in adjustments["metadata"]:
-                orientation = adjustments["metadata"]["orientation"]
 
     make, digital_source_type = None, None
     if (
@@ -190,6 +187,25 @@ def build_metadata(asset_record: dict[str, Any]) -> XMPMetadata:
     )
 
 
+def try_decompress_json(data_value: str) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
+    """
+    Attempts to decode base64-encoded, zlib-compressed JSON data.
+
+    Args:
+        data_value: Base64-encoded string
+
+    Returns:
+        Decoded JSON dictionary or None on error
+    """
+    try:
+        decoded = base64.b64decode(data_value)
+        decompressed = zlib.decompress(decoded, -zlib.MAX_WBITS)
+        data: dict[str, Any] = json.loads(decompressed)
+        return data
+    except (zlib.error, json.JSONDecodeError, Exception):
+        return None
+
+
 def generate_xml(metadata: XMPMetadata) -> ElementTree.Element:
     # Create the root element
     xml_doc = ElementTree.Element(
diff --git a/tests/test_xmp_sidecar.py b/tests/test_xmp_sidecar.py
index a1438ee09..4fd3f09dd 100644
--- a/tests/test_xmp_sidecar.py
+++ b/tests/test_xmp_sidecar.py
@@ -74,6 +74,27 @@ def test_build_metadata(self) -> None:
         metadata = build_metadata(assetRecordStub)
         assert metadata.Orientation is None
 
+        # - a zlib compressed JSON without "metadata" key (lines 101-113 coverage)
+        assetRecordStub["fields"]["adjustmentSimpleDataEnc"]["value"] = (
+            "q1Yqzs9N9S/JSC3yTq1UslJQKkvMKU1VqgUA"
+        )
+        metadata = build_metadata(assetRecordStub)
+        assert metadata.Orientation is None
+
+        # - a zlib compressed JSON with "metadata" key but no "orientation" key (lines 101-113 coverage)
+        assetRecordStub["fields"]["adjustmentSimpleDataEnc"]["value"] = (
+            "q1bKTS1JTEksSVSyUqhWKs7PTfUvyUgt8k6tBAoolSXmlKYq1dYCAA=="
+        )
+        metadata = build_metadata(assetRecordStub)
+        assert metadata.Orientation is None
+
+        # - invalid data that fails decompression (lines 101-113 coverage)
+        assetRecordStub["fields"]["adjustmentSimpleDataEnc"]["value"] = (
+            "aW52YWxpZCBkYXRhIHRoYXQgd2lsbCBmYWlsIGRlY29tcHJlc3Npb24="
+        )
+        metadata = build_metadata(assetRecordStub)
+        assert metadata.Orientation is None
+
         # Test Screenshot Tagging
         assetRecordStub["fields"]["assetSubtypeV2"]["value"] = 3
         metadata = build_metadata(assetRecordStub)