diff --git a/reframe/frontend/autodetect.py b/reframe/frontend/autodetect.py
index 4a1d6d55b8..ea037be5db 100644
--- a/reframe/frontend/autodetect.py
+++ b/reframe/frontend/autodetect.py
@@ -183,17 +183,29 @@ def detect_topology():
             getlogger().debug(
                 f'> found topology file {topo_file!r}; loading...'
             )
-            part.processor._info = _load_info(
-                topo_file, _subschema('#/defs/processor_info')
-            )
-            found_procinfo = True
+            try:
+                part.processor._info = _load_info(
+                    topo_file, _subschema('#/defs/processor_info')
+                )
+                found_procinfo = True
+            except json.decoder.JSONDecodeError as e:
+                getlogger().debug(
+                    f'> could not load {topo_file!r}: {e}: ignoring...'
+                )
 
         if not found_devinfo and os.path.exists(dev_file):
             getlogger().debug(
                 f'> found devices file {dev_file!r}; loading...'
             )
-            part._devices = _load_info(dev_file, _subschema('#/defs/devices'))
-            found_devinfo = True
+            try:
+                part._devices = _load_info(
+                    dev_file, _subschema('#/defs/devices')
+                )
+                found_devinfo = True
+            except json.decoder.JSONDecodeError as e:
+                getlogger().debug(
+                    f'> could not load {dev_file!r}: {e}: ignoring...'
+                )
 
         if found_procinfo and found_devinfo:
             continue
diff --git a/unittests/test_autodetect.py b/unittests/test_autodetect.py
index 9d21f5c504..4e33f3278c 100644
--- a/unittests/test_autodetect.py
+++ b/unittests/test_autodetect.py
@@ -33,8 +33,32 @@ def exec_ctx(make_exec_ctx_g, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     yield from make_exec_ctx_g()
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def invalid_topo_exec_ctx(make_exec_ctx_g, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    # Monkey-patch HOME, since topology is always written there
+    monkeypatch.setenv('HOME', str(tmp_path))
+
+    # Create invalid processor and devices files
+    meta_prefix = tmp_path / '.reframe' / 'topology' / 'generic-default'
+    os.makedirs(meta_prefix)
+    with open(meta_prefix / 'processor.json', 'w') as fp:
+        fp.write('{')
+
+    with open(meta_prefix / 'devices.json', 'w') as fp:
+        fp.write('{')
+
+    yield from make_exec_ctx_g()
+
+
 def test_autotect(exec_ctx):
     detect_topology()
     part = runtime().system.partitions[0]
     assert part.processor.info == cpuinfo()
     assert part.devices == [{'type': 'gpu', 'arch': 'a100', 'num_devices': 8}]
+
+
+def test_autotect_with_invalid_files(invalid_topo_exec_ctx):
+    detect_topology()
+    part = runtime().system.partitions[0]
+    assert part.processor.info == cpuinfo()
+    assert part.devices == []