diff --git a/cdc-service/src/main/java/com/xtrmetl/cdc/spi/DebeziumChangeRecordMapper.java b/cdc-service/src/main/java/com/xtrmetl/cdc/spi/DebeziumChangeRecordMapper.java
index 086e8cd5..df10e708 100644
--- a/cdc-service/src/main/java/com/xtrmetl/cdc/spi/DebeziumChangeRecordMapper.java
+++ b/cdc-service/src/main/java/com/xtrmetl/cdc/spi/DebeziumChangeRecordMapper.java
@@ -27,10 +27,17 @@ public DebeziumChangeRecordMapper(ObjectMapper objectMapper) {
     }
 
     /**
+     * Maps one Debezium value envelope and its optional key into a canonical change record.
+     *
+     * <p>A missing or malformed required value is rejected. A malformed optional key is treated
+     * as unavailable key metadata so a valid value can still supply the existing {@code id}
+     * fallback from its {@code after} or {@code before} object.</p>
+     *
      * @param sourceId logical source id (e.g. {@code postgres-debezium})
-     * @param topic    Kafka / Debezium destination topic ({@code prefix.schema.table})
-     * @param keyJson  optional Debezium key JSON
+     * @param topic Kafka / Debezium destination topic ({@code prefix.schema.table})
+     * @param keyJson optional Debezium key JSON
      * @param valueJson Debezium value JSON
+     * @return the mapped record when the required value envelope is valid, otherwise empty
      */
     public Optional<CanonicalChangeRecord> map(
             String sourceId,
@@ -105,13 +112,17 @@ public Optional<CanonicalChangeRecord> map(
         }
     }
 
-    private Map<String, Object> extractPk(String keyJson) throws IOException {
+    private Map<String, Object> extractPk(String keyJson) {
         if (keyJson == null || keyJson.isBlank()) {
             return Map.of();
         }
-        JsonNode root = objectMapper.readTree(keyJson);
-        JsonNode payload = root.has("payload") ? root.get("payload") : root;
-        return toMap(payload);
+        try {
+            JsonNode root = objectMapper.readTree(keyJson);
+            JsonNode payload = root.has("payload") ? root.get("payload") : root;
+            return toMap(payload);
+        } catch (IOException e) {
+            return Map.of();
+        }
     }
 
     private static String[] schemaTableFromTopic(String topic) {
diff --git a/cdc-service/src/test/java/com/xtrmetl/cdc/spi/DebeziumChangeRecordMapperTest.java b/cdc-service/src/test/java/com/xtrmetl/cdc/spi/DebeziumChangeRecordMapperTest.java
index 1f75c211..ffec5d11 100644
--- a/cdc-service/src/test/java/com/xtrmetl/cdc/spi/DebeziumChangeRecordMapperTest.java
+++ b/cdc-service/src/test/java/com/xtrmetl/cdc/spi/DebeziumChangeRecordMapperTest.java
@@ -80,6 +80,33 @@ void mapsDeleteUsingTopicWhenSourceMissing() {
         assertEquals(7, ((Number) record.getPk().get("id")).intValue());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void malformedKeyFallsBackToValidAfterIdentifierWithoutDroppingTheEvent() {
+        String value = """
+                {
+                  "payload": {
+                    "op": "u",
+                    "before": {"id": 41, "data": "old"},
+                    "after": {"id": 42, "data": "new"},
+                    "source": {"schema": "public", "table": "processed_data"}
+                  }
+                }
+                """;
+
+        Optional<CanonicalChangeRecord> result = mapper.map(
+                "postgres-debezium",
+                "xtrmetl-cdc.public.processed_data",
+                "{malformed-key-json",
+                value
+        );
+
+        assertTrue(result.isPresent(), "a malformed optional key must not discard an otherwise valid CDC value");
+        CanonicalChangeRecord record = result.get();
+        assertEquals("u", record.getOp());
+        assertEquals(42, ((Number) record.getPk().get("id")).intValue());
+        assertEquals("new", record.getAfter().get("data"));
+    }
+
     @Test
     void emptyValueReturnsEmpty() {
         assertTrue(mapper.map("s", "t", null, null).isEmpty());