diff --git a/src/g_gamedata.cpp b/src/g_gamedata.cpp
index e4a2b6b7a..14ad25d1a 100644
--- a/src/g_gamedata.cpp
+++ b/src/g_gamedata.cpp
@@ -434,6 +434,13 @@ void srb2::load_ng_gamedata()
 		json parsed = json::from_ubjson(remainder_as_u8);
 		js = parsed.template get<GamedataJson>();
 	}
+	catch (const std::exception& ex)
+	{
+		const char* gdfolder = G_GameDataFolder();
+		const char* what = ex.what();
+		I_Error("Game data is corrupt.\nDelete %s (maybe in %s) and try again.\n\nException: %s", gamedatafilename, gdfolder, what);
+		return;
+	}
 	catch (...)
 	{
 		const char* gdfolder = G_GameDataFolder();
diff --git a/src/k_profiles.cpp b/src/k_profiles.cpp
index eb5371f98..1d8a9a8f8 100644
--- a/src/k_profiles.cpp
+++ b/src/k_profiles.cpp
@@ -398,9 +398,14 @@ void PR_LoadProfiles(void)
 		json parsed = json::from_ubjson(remainder_as_u8);
 		js = parsed.template get<ProfilesJson>();
 	}
+	catch (const std::exception& ex)
+	{
+		I_Error("Profiles file is corrupt.\n\nException: %s", ex.what());
+		return;
+	}
 	catch (...)
 	{
-		I_Error("Profiles file is corrupt");
+		I_Error("Profiles file is corrupt.");
 		return;
 	}