diff --git a/maxdiff/freezing_utils.py b/maxdiff/freezing_utils.py
index cafe935..872f033 100644
--- a/maxdiff/freezing_utils.py
+++ b/maxdiff/freezing_utils.py
@@ -86,10 +86,11 @@ def get_patcher_dict(entry: device_entry_with_data):
 
     device_data_text = ""
     try:
-        if patch_data[len(patch_data) - 1] == 0:
-            device_data_text = patch_data[: len(patch_data) - 1].decode("utf-8")
-        else:
-            device_data_text = patch_data.decode("utf-8")
+        device_data_text = patch_data.decode("utf-8")
+
+        # Past Max versions could write patcher data with a trailing 0 
+        # or with trailing garbage.
+        device_data_text = strip_trailing_nonjson(device_data_text)
     except Exception as e:
         print(f"Error getting patch data as text for entry {name}: {e}")
         return {}
@@ -106,3 +107,29 @@ def get_patcher_dict(entry: device_entry_with_data):
     except:
         print(f"Content of entry {name} does not seem to be a patcher")
         return {}
+
+
+def strip_trailing_nonjson(device_data_text: str) -> str:
+    """
+    This function returns (possibly trimmed) JSON text to pass to json.loads().
+    """
+    decoder = json.JSONDecoder()
+    try:
+        _, end = decoder.raw_decode(device_data_text)
+        return device_data_text[:end].rstrip()
+    except json.JSONDecodeError:
+        pass
+
+    # find all candidate closing positions for objects/arrays
+    closers = [i for i, ch in enumerate(device_data_text) if ch in ("}", "]")]
+    # try from last to first — prefer the longest valid prefix
+    for pos in reversed(closers):
+        candidate = device_data_text[: pos + 1]
+        try:
+            json.loads(candidate)
+            return candidate
+        except Exception:
+            continue
+
+    # nothing worked; return original so caller can log/handle the parse error
+    return device_data_text
diff --git a/maxdiff/tests/test.py b/maxdiff/tests/test.py
index 3eac5cf..7ffeecd 100644
--- a/maxdiff/tests/test.py
+++ b/maxdiff/tests/test.py
@@ -102,6 +102,16 @@ def test_parse_maxpat_with_merge_conficts(self):
             actual = parse(test_path)
             self.assertEqual(expected, actual)
 
+    def test_parse_with_garbage(self):
+        self.maxDiff = None
+
+        expected_path, test_path = get_test_path_files("WithGarbage.amxd")
+
+        with open(expected_path, mode="r") as expected_file:
+            expected = expected_file.read()
+            actual = parse(test_path)
+            self.assertEqual(expected, actual)
+
 
 def get_test_path_files(file_name):
     expected = get_test_path_file(f"test_baselines/{file_name}.txt")
diff --git a/maxdiff/tests/test_baselines/WithGarbage.amxd.txt b/maxdiff/tests/test_baselines/WithGarbage.amxd.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..88812f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/maxdiff/tests/test_baselines/WithGarbage.amxd.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+Audio Effect Device
+-------------------
+Device is frozen
+----- Contents -----
+Livesync Leader.amxd: 88337 bytes, modified at 2020/06/14 09:47:41 UTC <= Device 
+
+Total - Counting every abstraction instance - Indicates loading time
+    Object instances: 130
+    Connections: 151
+Unique - Counting abstractions once - Indicates maintainability
+    Object instances: 130
+    Connections: 151
diff --git a/maxdiff/tests/test_files/WithGarbage.amxd b/maxdiff/tests/test_files/WithGarbage.amxd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2040cce
Binary files /dev/null and b/maxdiff/tests/test_files/WithGarbage.amxd differ
diff --git a/maxdiff/tests/test_rewrite_baselines.py b/maxdiff/tests/test_rewrite_baselines.py
index 390cac9..14b1db6 100644
--- a/maxdiff/tests/test_rewrite_baselines.py
+++ b/maxdiff/tests/test_rewrite_baselines.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ def run():
     rewrite_file("Test.amxd")
     rewrite_file("EncryptedTest.amxd")
     rewrite_file("FrozenTest.amxd")
+    rewrite_file("WithGarbage.amxd")
     rewrite_file("Test.maxpat")
     rewrite_file("Test Project/Zipped.als")
     rewrite_file("Test Project/Test.als")