diff --git a/matrix_client/room.py b/matrix_client/room.py
index 488f335b..9083ed4a 100644
--- a/matrix_client/room.py
+++ b/matrix_client/room.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
+import logging
 import re
 from uuid import uuid4
 
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@
 from .user import User
 from .errors import MatrixRequestError
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 class Room(object):
     """Call room-specific functions after joining a room from the client.
@@ -643,28 +646,32 @@ def _process_state_event(self, state_event):
 
         # Don't keep track of room state if caching turned off
         if clevel >= 0:
-            if etype == "m.room.name":
-                self.name = econtent.get("name")
-            elif etype == "m.room.canonical_alias":
-                self.canonical_alias = econtent.get("alias")
-            elif etype == "m.room.topic":
-                self.topic = econtent.get("topic")
-            elif etype == "m.room.aliases":
-                self.aliases = econtent.get("aliases")
-            elif etype == "m.room.join_rules":
-                self.invite_only = econtent["join_rule"] == "invite"
-            elif etype == "m.room.guest_access":
-                self.guest_access = econtent["guest_access"] == "can_join"
-            elif etype == "m.room.encryption":
-                if econtent.get("algorithm") == "m.megolm.v1.aes-sha2":
-                    self.encrypted = True
-            elif etype == "m.room.member" and clevel == clevel.ALL:
-                # tracking room members can be large e.g. #matrix:matrix.org
-                if econtent["membership"] == "join":
-                    user_id = state_event["state_key"]
-                    self._add_member(user_id, econtent.get("displayname"))
-                elif econtent["membership"] in ("leave", "kick", "invite"):
-                    self._members.pop(state_event["state_key"], None)
+            try:
+                if etype == "m.room.name":
+                    self.name = econtent.get("name")
+                elif etype == "m.room.canonical_alias":
+                    self.canonical_alias = econtent.get("alias")
+                elif etype == "m.room.topic":
+                    self.topic = econtent.get("topic")
+                elif etype == "m.room.aliases":
+                    self.aliases = econtent.get("aliases")
+                elif etype == "m.room.join_rules":
+                    self.invite_only = econtent["join_rule"] == "invite"
+                elif etype == "m.room.guest_access":
+                    self.guest_access = econtent["guest_access"] == "can_join"
+                elif etype == "m.room.encryption":
+                    if econtent.get("algorithm") == "m.megolm.v1.aes-sha2":
+                        self.encrypted = True
+                elif etype == "m.room.member" and clevel == clevel.ALL:
+                    # tracking room members can be large e.g. #matrix:matrix.org
+                    if econtent["membership"] == "join":
+                        user_id = state_event["state_key"]
+                        self._add_member(user_id, econtent.get("displayname"))
+                    elif econtent["membership"] in ("leave", "kick", "invite"):
+                        self._members.pop(state_event["state_key"], None)
+            except KeyError:
+                logger.exception("Unable to parse state event %s, passing over.",
+                                 state_event['event_id'])
 
         for listener in self.state_listeners:
             if (
diff --git a/test/client_test.py b/test/client_test.py
index c5884924..c9b8464a 100644
--- a/test/client_test.py
+++ b/test/client_test.py
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ def test_state_event():
 
     ev = {
         "type": "m.room.name",
-        "content": {}
+        "content": {},
+        "event_id": "$10000000000000AAAAA:matrix.org"
     }
 
     room._process_state_event(ev)
@@ -152,6 +153,13 @@ def test_state_event():
     room._process_state_event(ev)
     assert room.guest_access
 
+    # test malformed event (check does not throw exception)
+    room.guest_access = False
+    ev["type"] = "m.room.guest_access"
+    ev["content"] = {}
+    room._process_state_event(ev)
+    assert not room.guest_access
+
     # test encryption
     room.encrypted = False
     ev["type"] = "m.room.encryption"