diff --git a/karapace/kafka_rest_apis/authentication.py b/karapace/kafka_rest_apis/authentication.py
index 88cab7289..ec2af41f1 100644
--- a/karapace/kafka_rest_apis/authentication.py
+++ b/karapace/kafka_rest_apis/authentication.py
@@ -99,7 +99,11 @@ def get_expiration_time_from_header(auth_header: str) -> datetime.datetime | Non
     token_type, token = _split_auth_header(auth_header)
 
     if token_type == TokenType.BEARER.value:
-        exp_claim = jwt.decode(token, options={"verify_signature": False}).get("exp")
+        try:
+            exp_claim = jwt.decode(token, options={"verify_signature": False}).get("exp")
+        except jwt.exceptions.DecodeError:
+            raise_unauthorized()
+
         if exp_claim is not None:
             return datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(exp_claim, datetime.timezone.utc)
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_authentication.py b/tests/unit/test_authentication.py
index 3921f0560..485ff86d1 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_authentication.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_authentication.py
@@ -21,6 +21,13 @@
 import pytest
 
 
+def _assert_unauthorized_http_response(http_response: HTTPResponse) -> None:
+    assert http_response.body == '{"message": "Unauthorized"}'
+    assert http_response.status == HTTPStatus.UNAUTHORIZED
+    assert http_response.headers["Content-Type"] == JSON_CONTENT_TYPE
+    assert http_response.headers["WWW-Authenticate"] == 'Basic realm="Karapace REST Proxy"'
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "auth_header",
     (None, "Digest foo=bar"),
@@ -31,11 +38,7 @@ def test_get_auth_config_from_header_raises_unauthorized_on_invalid_header(auth_
     with pytest.raises(HTTPResponse) as exc_info:
         get_auth_config_from_header(auth_header, config)
 
-    http_resonse = exc_info.value
-    assert http_resonse.body == '{"message": "Unauthorized"}'
-    assert http_resonse.status == HTTPStatus.UNAUTHORIZED
-    assert http_resonse.headers["Content-Type"] == JSON_CONTENT_TYPE
-    assert http_resonse.headers["WWW-Authenticate"] == 'Basic realm="Karapace REST Proxy"'
+    _assert_unauthorized_http_response(exc_info.value)
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
@@ -88,6 +91,17 @@ def test_get_expiration_time_from_header(auth_header: str, expected_expiration:
     assert expiration == expected_expiration
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "auth_header",
+    (f"Bearer {jwt.encode({'exp': 1697013997}, 'secret')}XX", "Bearer NotAToken"),
+)
+def test_get_expiration_time_from_header_malformed_bearer_token_raises_unauthorized(auth_header: str) -> None:
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPResponse) as exc_info:
+        get_expiration_time_from_header(auth_header)
+
+    _assert_unauthorized_http_response(exc_info.value)
+
+
 def test_simple_oauth_token_provider_returns_configured_token() -> None:
     token_provider = SimpleOauthTokenProvider("TOKEN")
     assert token_provider.token() == "TOKEN"