diff --git a/jsonexamples/invalid/nil_token.json b/jsonexamples/invalid/nil_token.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..afaf04b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jsonexamples/invalid/nil_token.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+[nil]
diff --git a/jsonexamples/invalid/nil_token_scalar.json b/jsonexamples/invalid/nil_token_scalar.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..607602c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jsonexamples/invalid/nil_token_scalar.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+nil
diff --git a/jsonexamples/invalid/nully_token.json b/jsonexamples/invalid/nully_token.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f7e40fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jsonexamples/invalid/nully_token.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+[nully]
diff --git a/jsonexamples/invalid/nully_token_scalar.json b/jsonexamples/invalid/nully_token_scalar.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1307f40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jsonexamples/invalid/nully_token_scalar.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+nully
diff --git a/spec/compile_spec.lua b/spec/compile_spec.lua
index 49053e5..22e191b 100644
--- a/spec/compile_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/compile_spec.lua
@@ -107,7 +107,11 @@ if tonumber(major) >= 5 and tonumber(minor) >= 3 then
 end
 
 local invalid_files = {
-    "bool_trailing.json"
+    "bool_trailing.json",
+    "nil_token.json",
+    -- "nil_token_scalar.json",
+    "nully_token.json",
+    -- "nully_token_scalar.json"
 }
 
 describe("Make sure invalid files are not accepted", function()
diff --git a/src/luasimdjson.cpp b/src/luasimdjson.cpp
index b657652..fe7ddf9 100644
--- a/src/luasimdjson.cpp
+++ b/src/luasimdjson.cpp
@@ -121,7 +121,10 @@ void convert_ondemand_element_to_table(lua_State *L, T& element) {
       break;
 
     case ondemand::json_type::null:
-      lua_pushlightuserdata(L, NULL);
+      // calling is_null().value() will trigger an exception if the value is invalid
+      if (element.is_null().value()) {
+        lua_pushlightuserdata(L, NULL);
+      }
       break;
   }
 }