diff --git a/src/readstat.h b/src/readstat.h
index bf2c375e..2d058f10 100644
--- a/src/readstat.h
+++ b/src/readstat.h
@@ -298,6 +298,20 @@ typedef int (*readstat_value_label_handler)(const char *val_labels,
         readstat_value_t value, const char *label, void *ctx);
 typedef void (*readstat_error_handler)(const char *error_message, void *ctx);
 typedef int (*readstat_progress_handler)(double progress, void *ctx);
+typedef int (*readstat_invalid_string_handler)(char *dst, size_t dst_len,
+        const char *src, size_t src_len, int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable,
+        void *ctx);
+
+int readstat_invalid_string_info(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, size_t src_len,
+    int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable, void *ctx);
+int readstat_invalid_string_copy(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, size_t src_len,
+    int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable, void *ctx);
+int readstat_invalid_string_skip(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, size_t src_len,
+    int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable, void *ctx);
+int readstat_invalid_string_utf8(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, size_t src_len,
+    int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable, void *ctx);
+int readstat_invalid_string_cp1252(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, size_t src_len,
+    int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable, void *ctx);
 
 #if defined(_MSC_VER)
 #include <BaseTsd.h>
@@ -334,14 +348,15 @@ typedef struct readstat_io_s {
 } readstat_io_t;
 
 typedef struct readstat_callbacks_s {
-    readstat_metadata_handler      metadata;
-    readstat_note_handler          note;
-    readstat_variable_handler      variable;
-    readstat_fweight_handler       fweight;
-    readstat_value_handler         value;
-    readstat_value_label_handler   value_label;
-    readstat_error_handler         error;
-    readstat_progress_handler      progress;
+    readstat_metadata_handler       metadata;
+    readstat_note_handler           note;
+    readstat_variable_handler       variable;
+    readstat_fweight_handler        fweight;
+    readstat_value_handler          value;
+    readstat_value_label_handler    value_label;
+    readstat_error_handler          error;
+    readstat_progress_handler       progress;
+    readstat_invalid_string_handler invalid_string;
 } readstat_callbacks_t;
 
 typedef struct readstat_parser_s {
@@ -365,6 +380,7 @@ readstat_error_t readstat_set_value_handler(readstat_parser_t *parser, readstat_
 readstat_error_t readstat_set_value_label_handler(readstat_parser_t *parser, readstat_value_label_handler value_label_handler);
 readstat_error_t readstat_set_error_handler(readstat_parser_t *parser, readstat_error_handler error_handler);
 readstat_error_t readstat_set_progress_handler(readstat_parser_t *parser, readstat_progress_handler progress_handler);
+readstat_error_t readstat_set_invalid_string_handler(readstat_parser_t *parser, readstat_invalid_string_handler invalid_string_handler);
 
 readstat_error_t readstat_set_open_handler(readstat_parser_t *parser, readstat_open_handler open_handler);
 readstat_error_t readstat_set_close_handler(readstat_parser_t *parser, readstat_close_handler close_handler);
diff --git a/src/readstat_convert.c b/src/readstat_convert.c
index 1e54ca58..6676ce9d 100644
--- a/src/readstat_convert.c
+++ b/src/readstat_convert.c
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ readstat_error_t readstat_convert(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, si
         char *dst_end = dst;
         size_t status = iconv(converter, (readstat_iconv_inbuf_t)&src, &src_len, &dst_end, &dst_left);
         if (status == (size_t)-1) {
-            if (errno == E2BIG) {
+            if (errno == E2BIG) { /* E2BIG indicates that the output buffer is not large enough */
                 return READSTAT_ERROR_CONVERT_LONG_STRING;
-            } else if (errno == EILSEQ) {
+            } else if (errno == EILSEQ) { /* EILSEQ indicates an invalid multibyte sequence */
                 return READSTAT_ERROR_CONVERT_BAD_STRING;
             } else if (errno != EINVAL) { /* EINVAL indicates improper truncation; accept it */
                 return READSTAT_ERROR_CONVERT;
@@ -34,3 +34,110 @@ readstat_error_t readstat_convert(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, si
     }
     return READSTAT_OK;
 }
+
+int readstat_invalid_string_info(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, size_t src_len, int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable, void *ctx) {
+    /* show information about the invalid string and exit */
+    printf("Invalid string in variable %s, row %d: \"%s\"\n", variable->name, obs_index, src);
+
+    return READSTAT_HANDLER_ABORT;
+}
+
+int readstat_invalid_string_copy(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, size_t src_len, int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable, void *ctx) {
+    /* copy over the string unedited and continue */
+
+    /* strip off spaces from the input because the programs use ASCII space
+     * padding even with non-ASCII encoding. */
+    while (src_len && src[src_len-1] == ' ') {
+        src_len--;
+    }
+
+    if (src_len + 1 > dst_len) {
+        return READSTAT_HANDLER_ABORT;
+    }
+
+    memcpy(dst, src, src_len);
+    dst[src_len] = '\0';
+
+    return READSTAT_HANDLER_OK;
+}
+
+int readstat_invalid_string_skip(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, size_t src_len, int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable, void *ctx) {
+    /* skip the invalid string */
+    dst[0] = '\0';
+
+    return READSTAT_HANDLER_OK;
+}
+
+int readstat_invalid_string_utf8(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, size_t src_len, int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable, void *ctx) {
+    /* treat string as utf-8 and use the unicode replacement character for any invalid bytes */
+
+    /* strip off spaces from the input because the programs use ASCII space
+     * padding even with non-ASCII encoding. */
+    while (src_len && src[src_len-1] == ' ') {
+        src_len--;
+    }
+
+    iconv_t converter = iconv_open("UTF-8", "UTF-8");
+    if (converter == (iconv_t)-1) {
+        return READSTAT_HANDLER_ABORT;
+    }
+
+    size_t dst_left = dst_len - 1;
+    char *dst_end = dst;
+    size_t src_left = src_len;
+    const char *src_end = src;
+    while (src_left > 0) {
+        size_t status = iconv(converter, (readstat_iconv_inbuf_t)&src_end, &src_left, &dst_end, &dst_left);
+        if (status == (size_t)-1) {
+            if (errno == E2BIG) { /* E2BIG indicates that the output buffer is not large enough */
+                return READSTAT_HANDLER_ABORT;
+            } else if (errno == EILSEQ) { /* EILSEQ indicates an invalid multibyte sequence */
+                if (dst_left < 3) {
+                    return READSTAT_HANDLER_ABORT;
+                }
+
+                dst_end[0] = (char) 0xEF;
+                dst_end[1] = (char) 0xBF;
+                dst_end[2] = (char) 0xBD;
+                dst_end += 3;
+                src_end += 1;
+                dst_left -= 3;
+                src_left -= 1;
+            } else if (errno != EINVAL) { /* EINVAL indicates improper truncation; accept it */
+                return READSTAT_HANDLER_ABORT;
+            } else {
+                /* finish here and accept conversion if EINVAL is returned */
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    dst[dst_len - dst_left - 1] = '\0';
+
+    iconv_close(converter);
+    return READSTAT_HANDLER_OK;
+}
+
+int readstat_invalid_string_cp1252(char *dst, size_t dst_len, const char *src, size_t src_len, int obs_index, readstat_variable_t *variable, void *ctx) {
+    /* try converting the rest of the string as WINDOWS-1252, common encoding error */
+    while (src_len && src[src_len-1] == ' ') {
+        src_len--;
+    }
+
+    iconv_t converter = iconv_open("UTF-8", "WINDOWS-1252");
+    if (converter == (iconv_t)-1) {
+        return READSTAT_HANDLER_ABORT;
+    }
+
+    size_t dst_left = dst_len - 1;
+    char *dst_end = dst;
+    size_t status = iconv(converter, (readstat_iconv_inbuf_t)&src, &src_len, &dst_end, &dst_left);
+
+    if (status == (size_t)-1) {
+        return READSTAT_HANDLER_ABORT;
+    }
+    dst[dst_len - dst_left - 1] = '\0';
+
+    iconv_close(converter);
+    return READSTAT_HANDLER_OK;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/readstat_parser.c b/src/readstat_parser.c
index d0814000..bd61bba8 100644
--- a/src/readstat_parser.c
+++ b/src/readstat_parser.c
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@ readstat_error_t readstat_set_progress_handler(readstat_parser_t *parser, readst
     return READSTAT_OK;
 }
 
+readstat_error_t readstat_set_invalid_string_handler(readstat_parser_t *parser, readstat_invalid_string_handler invalid_string_handler) {
+    parser->handlers.invalid_string = invalid_string_handler;
+    return READSTAT_OK;
+}
+
 readstat_error_t readstat_set_fweight_handler(readstat_parser_t *parser, readstat_fweight_handler fweight_handler) {
     parser->handlers.fweight = fweight_handler;
     return READSTAT_OK;
diff --git a/src/sas/readstat_sas7bdat_read.c b/src/sas/readstat_sas7bdat_read.c
index cfc27500..898bf0f2 100644
--- a/src/sas/readstat_sas7bdat_read.c
+++ b/src/sas/readstat_sas7bdat_read.c
@@ -399,7 +399,16 @@ static readstat_error_t sas7bdat_handle_data_value(readstat_variable_t *variable
     if (col_info->type == READSTAT_TYPE_STRING) {
         retval = readstat_convert(ctx->scratch_buffer, ctx->scratch_buffer_len,
                 col_data, col_info->width, ctx->converter);
-        if (retval != READSTAT_OK) {
+        if (retval == READSTAT_ERROR_CONVERT_BAD_STRING) {
+            if (!ctx->handle.invalid_string) {
+                goto cleanup;
+            } else if (ctx->handle.invalid_string(ctx->scratch_buffer, ctx->scratch_buffer_len,
+                    col_data, col_info->width, ctx->parsed_row_count+1,
+                    variable, ctx->user_ctx) != READSTAT_HANDLER_OK) {
+                retval = READSTAT_ERROR_USER_ABORT;
+                goto cleanup;
+            }
+        } else if (retval != READSTAT_OK) {
             if (ctx->handle.error) {
                 snprintf(ctx->error_buf, sizeof(ctx->error_buf),
                         "ReadStat: Error converting string (row=%u, col=%u) to specified encoding: %.*s",
diff --git a/src/sas/readstat_xport_read.c b/src/sas/readstat_xport_read.c
index 0bbb433a..98c5eaa5 100644
--- a/src/sas/readstat_xport_read.c
+++ b/src/sas/readstat_xport_read.c
@@ -565,8 +565,18 @@ static readstat_error_t xport_process_row(xport_ctx_t *ctx, const char *row, siz
             }
             retval = readstat_convert(string, 4*variable->storage_width+1,
                     &row[pos], variable->storage_width, ctx->converter);
-            if (retval != READSTAT_OK)
+            if (retval == READSTAT_ERROR_CONVERT_BAD_STRING) {
+                if (!ctx->handle.invalid_string) {
+                    goto cleanup;
+                } else if (ctx->handle.invalid_string(string, 4*variable->storage_width+1,
+                        &row[pos], variable->storage_width, ctx->parsed_row_count+1,
+                        variable, ctx->user_ctx) != READSTAT_HANDLER_OK) {
+                    retval = READSTAT_ERROR_USER_ABORT;
+                    goto cleanup;
+                }
+            } else if (retval != READSTAT_OK) {
                 goto cleanup;
+            }
 
             value.v.string_value = string;
         } else {
diff --git a/src/spss/readstat_por_read.c b/src/spss/readstat_por_read.c
index 44dc0f48..e27071bf 100644
--- a/src/spss/readstat_por_read.c
+++ b/src/spss/readstat_por_read.c
@@ -616,7 +616,16 @@ static readstat_error_t read_por_file_data(por_ctx_t *ctx) {
                 }
                 rs_retval = readstat_convert(output_string, sizeof(output_string),
                         input_string, strlen(input_string), ctx->converter);
-                if (rs_retval != READSTAT_OK) {
+                if (rs_retval == READSTAT_ERROR_CONVERT_BAD_STRING) {
+                    if (!ctx->handle.invalid_string) {
+                        goto cleanup;
+                    } else if (ctx->handle.invalid_string(output_string, sizeof(output_string),
+                            input_string, strlen(input_string), ctx->obs_count+1,
+                            ctx->variables[i], ctx->user_ctx) != READSTAT_HANDLER_OK) {
+                        rs_retval = READSTAT_ERROR_USER_ABORT;
+                        goto cleanup;
+                    }
+                } else if (rs_retval != READSTAT_OK) {
                     goto cleanup;
                 }
                 value.v.string_value = output_string;
diff --git a/src/spss/readstat_sav_read.c b/src/spss/readstat_sav_read.c
index 184f5343..1c78caf8 100644
--- a/src/spss/readstat_sav_read.c
+++ b/src/spss/readstat_sav_read.c
@@ -726,8 +726,18 @@ static readstat_error_t sav_process_row(unsigned char *buffer, size_t buffer_len
                 if (!ctx->variables[var_info->index]->skip) {
                     retval = readstat_convert(ctx->utf8_string, ctx->utf8_string_len, 
                             ctx->raw_string, raw_str_used, ctx->converter);
-                    if (retval != READSTAT_OK)
+                    if (retval == READSTAT_ERROR_CONVERT_BAD_STRING) {
+                        if (!ctx->handle.invalid_string) {
+                            goto done;
+                        } else if (ctx->handle.invalid_string(ctx->utf8_string, ctx->utf8_string_len,
+                                ctx->raw_string, raw_str_used, ctx->current_row+1,
+                                ctx->variables[var_info->index], ctx->user_ctx) != READSTAT_HANDLER_OK) {
+                            retval = READSTAT_ERROR_USER_ABORT;
+                            goto done;
+                        }
+                    } else if (retval != READSTAT_OK) {
                         goto done;
+                    }
                     value.v.string_value = ctx->utf8_string;
                     if (ctx->handle.value(ctx->current_row, ctx->variables[var_info->index],
                                 value, ctx->user_ctx) != READSTAT_HANDLER_OK) {
diff --git a/src/stata/readstat_dta_read.c b/src/stata/readstat_dta_read.c
index ce07c333..9e40d89a 100644
--- a/src/stata/readstat_dta_read.c
+++ b/src/stata/readstat_dta_read.c
@@ -619,8 +619,18 @@ static readstat_error_t dta_handle_row(const unsigned char *buf, dta_ctx_t *ctx)
             size_t str_len = strnlen((const char *)&buf[offset], max_len);
             retval = readstat_convert(str_buf, sizeof(str_buf),
                     (const char *)&buf[offset], str_len, ctx->converter);
-            if (retval != READSTAT_OK)
+            if (retval == READSTAT_ERROR_CONVERT_BAD_STRING) {
+                if (!ctx->handle.invalid_string) {
+                    goto cleanup;
+                } else if (ctx->handle.invalid_string(str_buf, sizeof(str_buf),
+                        (const char *)&buf[offset], str_len, ctx->current_row+1,
+                        ctx->variables[j], ctx->user_ctx) != READSTAT_HANDLER_OK) {
+                    retval = READSTAT_ERROR_USER_ABORT;
+                    goto cleanup;
+                }
+            } else if (retval != READSTAT_OK) {
                 goto cleanup;
+            }
             value.v.string_value = str_buf;
         } else if (value.type == READSTAT_TYPE_STRING_REF) {
             dta_strl_t key = dta_interpret_strl_vo_bytes(ctx, &buf[offset]);
diff --git a/src/txt/readstat_txt_read.c b/src/txt/readstat_txt_read.c
index e48f687a..df557e5e 100644
--- a/src/txt/readstat_txt_read.c
+++ b/src/txt/readstat_txt_read.c
@@ -27,8 +27,17 @@ static readstat_error_t handle_value(readstat_parser_t *parser, iconv_t converte
     if (readstat_type_class(variable->type) == READSTAT_TYPE_CLASS_STRING) {
         converted_value = malloc(4*len+1);
         error = readstat_convert(converted_value, 4 * len + 1, bytes, len, converter);
-        if (error != READSTAT_OK)
+        if (error == READSTAT_ERROR_CONVERT_BAD_STRING) {
+            if (!parser->handlers.invalid_string) {
+                goto cleanup;
+            } else if (parser->handlers.invalid_string(converted_value, 4 * len + 1,
+                    bytes, len, obs_index+1, variable, ctx) != READSTAT_HANDLER_OK) {
+                error = READSTAT_ERROR_USER_ABORT;
+                goto cleanup;
+            }
+        } else if (error != READSTAT_OK) {
             goto cleanup;
+        }
         value.v.string_value = converted_value;
     } else {
         char *endptr = NULL;