diff --git a/crypto/ssss/key.go b/crypto/ssss/key.go
index c973c1fe..aa22360a 100644
--- a/crypto/ssss/key.go
+++ b/crypto/ssss/key.go
@@ -57,7 +57,12 @@ func NewKey(passphrase string) (*Key, error) {
 	// We store a certain hash in the key metadata so that clients can check if the user entered the correct key.
 	ivBytes := random.Bytes(utils.AESCTRIVLength)
 	keyData.IV = base64.RawStdEncoding.EncodeToString(ivBytes)
-	keyData.MAC = keyData.calculateHash(ssssKey)
+	var err error
+	keyData.MAC, err = keyData.calculateHash(ssssKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		// This should never happen because we just generated the IV and key.
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to calculate hash: %w", err)
+	}
 
 	return &Key{
 		Key:      ssssKey,
diff --git a/crypto/ssss/meta.go b/crypto/ssss/meta.go
index 210bcdcf..474c85d8 100644
--- a/crypto/ssss/meta.go
+++ b/crypto/ssss/meta.go
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ func (kd *KeyMetadata) VerifyPassphrase(keyID, passphrase string) (*Key, error)
 	ssssKey, err := kd.Passphrase.GetKey(passphrase)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
-	} else if !kd.VerifyKey(ssssKey) {
-		return nil, ErrIncorrectSSSSKey
+	} else if err = kd.verifyKey(ssssKey); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return &Key{
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ func (kd *KeyMetadata) VerifyRecoveryKey(keyID, recoveryKey string) (*Key, error
 	ssssKey := utils.DecodeBase58RecoveryKey(recoveryKey)
 	if ssssKey == nil {
 		return nil, ErrInvalidRecoveryKey
-	} else if !kd.VerifyKey(ssssKey) {
-		return nil, ErrIncorrectSSSSKey
+	} else if err := kd.verifyKey(ssssKey); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	return &Key{
@@ -60,22 +60,46 @@ func (kd *KeyMetadata) VerifyRecoveryKey(keyID, recoveryKey string) (*Key, error
 	}, nil
 }
 
+func (kd *KeyMetadata) verifyKey(key []byte) error {
+	unpaddedMAC := strings.TrimRight(kd.MAC, "=")
+	expectedMACLength := base64.RawStdEncoding.EncodedLen(utils.SHAHashLength)
+	if len(unpaddedMAC) != expectedMACLength {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: invalid mac length %d (expected %d)", ErrCorruptedKeyMetadata, len(unpaddedMAC), expectedMACLength)
+	}
+	hash, err := kd.calculateHash(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if unpaddedMAC != hash {
+		return ErrIncorrectSSSSKey
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // VerifyKey verifies the SSSS key is valid by calculating and comparing its MAC.
 func (kd *KeyMetadata) VerifyKey(key []byte) bool {
-	return strings.TrimRight(kd.MAC, "=") == kd.calculateHash(key)
+	return kd.verifyKey(key) == nil
 }
 
 // calculateHash calculates the hash used for checking if the key is entered correctly as described
 // in the spec: https://matrix.org/docs/spec/client_server/unstable#m-secret-storage-v1-aes-hmac-sha2
-func (kd *KeyMetadata) calculateHash(key []byte) string {
+func (kd *KeyMetadata) calculateHash(key []byte) (string, error) {
 	aesKey, hmacKey := utils.DeriveKeysSHA256(key, "")
+	unpaddedIV := strings.TrimRight(kd.IV, "=")
+	expectedIVLength := base64.RawStdEncoding.EncodedLen(utils.AESCTRIVLength)
+	if len(unpaddedIV) != expectedIVLength {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: invalid iv length %d (expected %d)", ErrCorruptedKeyMetadata, len(unpaddedIV), expectedIVLength)
+	}
 
 	var ivBytes [utils.AESCTRIVLength]byte
-	_, _ = base64.RawStdEncoding.Decode(ivBytes[:], []byte(strings.TrimRight(kd.IV, "=")))
+	_, err := base64.RawStdEncoding.Decode(ivBytes[:], []byte(unpaddedIV))
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%w: failed to decode iv: %w", ErrCorruptedKeyMetadata, err)
+	}
 
 	cipher := utils.XorA256CTR(make([]byte, utils.AESCTRKeyLength), aesKey, ivBytes)
 
-	return utils.HMACSHA256B64(cipher, hmacKey)
+	return utils.HMACSHA256B64(cipher, hmacKey), nil
 }
 
 // PassphraseMetadata represents server-side metadata about a SSSS key passphrase.
diff --git a/crypto/ssss/meta_test.go b/crypto/ssss/meta_test.go
index 96c97282..4f2ff378 100644
--- a/crypto/ssss/meta_test.go
+++ b/crypto/ssss/meta_test.go
@@ -41,12 +41,28 @@ const key2Meta = `
 }
 `
 
+const key2MetaBrokenIV = `
+{
+  "algorithm": "m.secret_storage.v1.aes-hmac-sha2",
+  "iv": "O0BOvTqiIAYjC+RMcyHfWwMeowMeowMeow",
+  "mac": "7k6OruQlWg0UmQjxGZ0ad4Q6DdwkgnoI7G6X3IjBYtI="
+}
+`
+
+const key2MetaBrokenMAC = `
+{
+  "algorithm": "m.secret_storage.v1.aes-hmac-sha2",
+  "iv": "O0BOvTqiIAYjC+RMcyHfWw==",
+  "mac": "7k6OruQlWg0UmQjxGZ0ad4Q6DdwkgnoI7G6X3IjBYtIMeowMeowMeow"
+}
+`
+
 const key2ID = "NVe5vK6lZS9gEMQLJw0yqkzmE5Mr7dLv"
 const key2RecoveryKey = "EsUC xSxt XJgQ dz19 8WBZ rHdE GZo7 ybsn EFmG Y5HY MDAG GNWe"
 
-func getKey1Meta() *ssss.KeyMetadata {
+func getKeyMeta(meta string) *ssss.KeyMetadata {
 	var km ssss.KeyMetadata
-	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(key1Meta), &km)
+	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(meta), &km)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -54,7 +70,7 @@ func getKey1Meta() *ssss.KeyMetadata {
 }
 
 func getKey1() *ssss.Key {
-	km := getKey1Meta()
+	km := getKeyMeta(key1Meta)
 	key, err := km.VerifyRecoveryKey(key1ID, key1RecoveryKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
@@ -63,17 +79,8 @@ func getKey1() *ssss.Key {
 	return key
 }
 
-func getKey2Meta() *ssss.KeyMetadata {
-	var km ssss.KeyMetadata
-	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(key2Meta), &km)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	return &km
-}
-
 func getKey2() *ssss.Key {
-	km := getKey2Meta()
+	km := getKeyMeta(key2Meta)
 	key, err := km.VerifyRecoveryKey(key2ID, key2RecoveryKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
@@ -83,7 +90,7 @@ func getKey2() *ssss.Key {
 }
 
 func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyRecoveryKey_Correct(t *testing.T) {
-	km := getKey1Meta()
+	km := getKeyMeta(key1Meta)
 	key, err := km.VerifyRecoveryKey(key1ID, key1RecoveryKey)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.NotNil(t, key)
@@ -91,7 +98,7 @@ func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyRecoveryKey_Correct(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyRecoveryKey_Correct2(t *testing.T) {
-	km := getKey2Meta()
+	km := getKeyMeta(key2Meta)
 	key, err := km.VerifyRecoveryKey(key2ID, key2RecoveryKey)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.NotNil(t, key)
@@ -99,21 +106,21 @@ func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyRecoveryKey_Correct2(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyRecoveryKey_Invalid(t *testing.T) {
-	km := getKey1Meta()
+	km := getKeyMeta(key1Meta)
 	key, err := km.VerifyRecoveryKey(key1ID, "foo")
 	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, ssss.ErrInvalidRecoveryKey), "unexpected error: %v", err)
 	assert.Nil(t, key)
 }
 
 func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyRecoveryKey_Incorrect(t *testing.T) {
-	km := getKey1Meta()
+	km := getKeyMeta(key1Meta)
 	key, err := km.VerifyRecoveryKey(key2ID, key2RecoveryKey)
 	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, ssss.ErrIncorrectSSSSKey), "unexpected error: %v", err)
 	assert.Nil(t, key)
 }
 
 func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyPassphrase_Correct(t *testing.T) {
-	km := getKey1Meta()
+	km := getKeyMeta(key1Meta)
 	key, err := km.VerifyPassphrase(key1ID, key1Passphrase)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.NotNil(t, key)
@@ -121,15 +128,29 @@ func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyPassphrase_Correct(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyPassphrase_Incorrect(t *testing.T) {
-	km := getKey1Meta()
+	km := getKeyMeta(key1Meta)
 	key, err := km.VerifyPassphrase(key1ID, "incorrect horse battery staple")
 	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, ssss.ErrIncorrectSSSSKey), "unexpected error %v", err)
 	assert.Nil(t, key)
 }
 
 func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyPassphrase_NotSet(t *testing.T) {
-	km := getKey2Meta()
+	km := getKeyMeta(key2Meta)
 	key, err := km.VerifyPassphrase(key2ID, "hmm")
 	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, ssss.ErrNoPassphrase), "unexpected error %v", err)
 	assert.Nil(t, key)
 }
+
+func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyRecoveryKey_CorruptedIV(t *testing.T) {
+	km := getKeyMeta(key2MetaBrokenIV)
+	key, err := km.VerifyRecoveryKey(key2ID, key2RecoveryKey)
+	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, ssss.ErrCorruptedKeyMetadata), "unexpected error %v", err)
+	assert.Nil(t, key)
+}
+
+func TestKeyMetadata_VerifyRecoveryKey_CorruptedMAC(t *testing.T) {
+	km := getKeyMeta(key2MetaBrokenMAC)
+	key, err := km.VerifyRecoveryKey(key2ID, key2RecoveryKey)
+	assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, ssss.ErrCorruptedKeyMetadata), "unexpected error %v", err)
+	assert.Nil(t, key)
+}
diff --git a/crypto/ssss/types.go b/crypto/ssss/types.go
index 60852c55..345393b0 100644
--- a/crypto/ssss/types.go
+++ b/crypto/ssss/types.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ var (
 	ErrUnsupportedPassphraseAlgorithm = errors.New("unsupported passphrase KDF algorithm")
 	ErrIncorrectSSSSKey               = errors.New("incorrect SSSS key")
 	ErrInvalidRecoveryKey             = errors.New("invalid recovery key")
+	ErrCorruptedKeyMetadata           = errors.New("corrupted key metadata")
 )
 
 // Algorithm is the identifier for an SSSS encryption algorithm.