diff --git a/pkg/ueps/reader.go b/pkg/ueps/reader.go
index 23f91bd..04a132e 100644
--- a/pkg/ueps/reader.go
+++ b/pkg/ueps/reader.go
@@ -61,15 +61,25 @@ func ReadAndVerify(reader *bufio.Reader, sharedSecret []byte) (*ParsedPacket, er
 
 		switch tagType {
 		case TagVersion:
-			packetHeader.Version = tagValue[0]
+			if len(tagValue) >= 1 {
+				packetHeader.Version = tagValue[0]
+			}
 		case TagCurrentLayer:
-			packetHeader.CurrentLayer = tagValue[0]
+			if len(tagValue) >= 1 {
+				packetHeader.CurrentLayer = tagValue[0]
+			}
 		case TagTargetLayer:
-			packetHeader.TargetLayer = tagValue[0]
+			if len(tagValue) >= 1 {
+				packetHeader.TargetLayer = tagValue[0]
+			}
 		case TagIntent:
-			packetHeader.IntentID = tagValue[0]
+			if len(tagValue) >= 1 {
+				packetHeader.IntentID = tagValue[0]
+			}
 		case TagThreatScore:
-			packetHeader.ThreatScore = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(tagValue)
+			if len(tagValue) >= 2 {
+				packetHeader.ThreatScore = binary.BigEndian.Uint16(tagValue)
+			}
 		case TagHMAC:
 			hmacSignature = tagValue
 		}