diff --git a/shapefile.py b/shapefile.py
index f57ef31..45ddca1 100644
--- a/shapefile.py
+++ b/shapefile.py
@@ -485,9 +485,17 @@ def __record(self):
                 if value == b(''):
                     value = 0
                 elif deci:
-                    value = float(value)
+                    try:
+                        value = float(value)
+                    except ValueError:
+                        #not parseable as float, set to None
+                        value = None
                 else:
-                    value = int(value)
+                    try:
+                        value = int(value)
+                    except ValueError:
+                        #not parseable as int, set to None
+                        value = None
             elif typ == b('D'):
                 try:
                     y, m, d = int(value[:4]), int(value[4:6]), int(value[6:8])