diff --git a/cmd/provenanced/config/manager_test.go b/cmd/provenanced/config/manager_test.go
index 042b50289f..1288f3b0ac 100644
--- a/cmd/provenanced/config/manager_test.go
+++ b/cmd/provenanced/config/manager_test.go
@@ -196,6 +196,27 @@ func (s *ConfigManagerTestSuite) TestUnmanagedConfig() {
 		assert.Equal(t, "stuff", actual, "unmanaged field value")
 	})
 
+	s.T().Run("unmanaged config is read with invalid packed files", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dCmd := s.makeDummyCmd()
+		uFile := GetFullPathToUnmanagedConf(dCmd)
+		pFile := GetFullPathToPackedConf(dCmd)
+		SaveConfigs(dCmd, DefaultAppConfig(), DefaultTmConfig(), DefaultClientConfig(), false)
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(uFile, []byte("my-custom-entry = \"stuff\"\n"), 0o644), "writing unmanaged config")
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(pFile, []byte("kl234508923u5jl"), 0o644), "writing invalid data to packed config")
+		require.EqualError(t, LoadConfigFromFiles(dCmd), "packed config file parse error: invalid character 'k' looking for beginning of value", "should throw error with invalid packed config")
+		require.NoError(t, os.Remove(pFile), "removing packed config")
+	})
+
+	s.T().Run("unmanaged config is read with invalid unpacked files", func(t *testing.T) {
+		dCmd := s.makeDummyCmd()
+		uFile := GetFullPathToUnmanagedConf(dCmd)
+		pFile := GetFullPathToAppConf(dCmd)
+		SaveConfigs(dCmd, DefaultAppConfig(), DefaultTmConfig(), DefaultClientConfig(), false)
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(uFile, []byte("my-custom-entry = \"stuff\"\n"), 0o644), "writing unmanaged config")
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(pFile, []byte("kl234508923u5jl"), 0o644), "writing invalid data to app config")
+		require.EqualError(t, LoadConfigFromFiles(dCmd), "app config file merge error: While parsing config: toml: expected = after a key, but the document ends there", "should throw error with invalid packed config")
+	})
+
 	s.T().Run("unmanaged config is read with packed config", func(t *testing.T) {
 		dCmd := s.makeDummyCmd()
 		uFile := GetFullPathToUnmanagedConf(dCmd)