diff --git a/lib/atex/service_auth.ex b/lib/atex/service_auth.ex
index 898bf9b..84d2081 100644
--- a/lib/atex/service_auth.ex
+++ b/lib/atex/service_auth.ex
@@ -103,36 +103,49 @@ defmodule Atex.ServiceAuth do
   def validate_jwt(jwt, opts \\ []) do
     {expected_aud, expected_lxm} = options(opts)
 
-    %{
-      fields:
-        %{
-          "aud" => target_aud,
-          "iat" => iat,
-          "exp" => exp,
-          "iss" => issuing_did,
-          "jti" => nonce
-        } = fields
-    } = JOSE.JWT.peek(jwt)
-
-    target_lxm = Map.get(fields, "lxm")
-
-    with :ok <- validate_aud(expected_aud, target_aud),
-         :ok <- validate_lxm(expected_lxm, target_lxm),
-         :ok <- validate_token_times(iat, exp),
-         # Resolve JWT's issuer to: a) make sure it's a real identity, b) get
-         # the signing key from their DID document to verify the token
-         {:ok, identity} <- Atex.IdentityResolver.resolve(issuing_did),
-         user_jwk when not is_nil(user_jwk) <-
-           Atex.DID.Document.get_atproto_signing_key(identity.document),
-         {true, %JOSE.JWT{} = jwt_struct, _jws} <- JOSE.JWT.verify(user_jwk, jwt),
-         # Record the nonce atomically after successful verification. insert_new
-         # is used under the hood so this returns :seen if the jti was already
-         # consumed, preventing replay attacks.
-         :ok <- Atex.ServiceAuth.JTICache.put(nonce, exp) do
-      {:ok, jwt_struct}
-    else
-      :seen -> {:error, :replayed_token}
-      err -> err
+    peek_result =
+      try do
+        peeked = JOSE.JWT.peek(jwt)
+        {:ok, peeked}
+      rescue
+        _ -> {:error, :invalid_jwt}
+      end
+
+    case peek_result do
+      {:error, _} = err ->
+        err
+
+      {:ok,
+       %{
+         fields:
+           %{
+             "aud" => target_aud,
+             "iat" => iat,
+             "exp" => exp,
+             "iss" => issuing_did,
+             "jti" => nonce
+           } = fields
+       }} ->
+        target_lxm = Map.get(fields, "lxm")
+
+        with :ok <- validate_aud(expected_aud, target_aud),
+             :ok <- validate_lxm(expected_lxm, target_lxm),
+             :ok <- validate_token_times(iat, exp),
+             # Resolve JWT's issuer to: a) make sure it's a real identity, b) get
+             # the signing key from their DID document to verify the token
+             {:ok, identity} <- Atex.IdentityResolver.resolve(issuing_did),
+             user_jwk when not is_nil(user_jwk) <-
+               Atex.DID.Document.get_atproto_signing_key(identity.document),
+             {true, %JOSE.JWT{} = jwt_struct, _jws} <- JOSE.JWT.verify(user_jwk, jwt),
+             # Record the nonce atomically after successful verification. insert_new
+             # is used under the hood so this returns :seen if the jti was already
+             # consumed, preventing replay attacks.
+             :ok <- Atex.ServiceAuth.JTICache.put(nonce, exp) do
+          {:ok, jwt_struct}
+        else
+          :seen -> {:error, :replayed_token}
+          err -> err
+        end
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/test/atex/service_auth_test.exs b/test/atex/service_auth_test.exs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..37f2531
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/atex/service_auth_test.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+defmodule Atex.ServiceAuthTest do
+  use ExUnit.Case, async: true
+
+  describe "validate_jwt/2" do
+    test "returns {:error, :invalid_jwt} for a malformed token string" do
+      assert {:error, :invalid_jwt} =
+               Atex.ServiceAuth.validate_jwt("not.a.valid.jwt", aud: "did:web:example.com")
+    end
+
+    test "returns {:error, :invalid_jwt} for an empty string" do
+      assert {:error, :invalid_jwt} =
+               Atex.ServiceAuth.validate_jwt("", aud: "did:web:example.com")
+    end
+  end
+end