diff --git a/rbx_binary/src/core.rs b/rbx_binary/src/core.rs
index 94f53146..07973bd1 100644
--- a/rbx_binary/src/core.rs
+++ b/rbx_binary/src/core.rs
@@ -315,6 +315,43 @@ pub trait RbxWriteExt: Write {
 
 impl<W> RbxWriteExt for W where W: Write {}
 
+/// Read a binary "string" in the format that Roblox's model files use.
+///
+/// This function is safer than read_string because Roblox generally makes
+/// no guarantees about encoding of things it calls strings. rbx_binary
+/// makes a semantic differentiation between strings and binary buffers,
+/// which makes it more strict than Roblox but more likely to be correct.
+///
+/// This function is not part of RbxReadExt, and unlike
+/// RbxReadExt::read_binary_string, this function only operates on a byte slice.
+pub fn read_binary_string_slice<'a>(slice: &mut &'a [u8]) -> io::Result<&'a [u8]> {
+    let length = slice.read_le_u32()?;
+
+    let out;
+    // split_at can panic if the slice is shorter than length
+    // but we do not expect that to happen.
+    (out, *slice) = slice.split_at(length as usize);
+
+    Ok(out)
+}
+
+/// Read a UTF-8 encoded string encoded how Roblox model files encode
+/// strings. This function isn't always appropriate because Roblox's formats
+/// generally aren't dilligent about data being valid Unicode.
+///
+/// This function is not part of RbxReadExt, and unlike
+/// RbxReadExt::read_string, this function only operates on a byte slice.
+pub fn read_string_slice<'a>(slice: &mut &'a [u8]) -> io::Result<&'a str> {
+    let out = read_binary_string_slice(slice)?;
+
+    core::str::from_utf8(out).map_err(|_| {
+        io::Error::new(
+            io::ErrorKind::InvalidData,
+            "stream did not contain valid UTF-8",
+        )
+    })
+}
+
 /// Applies the 'zigzag' transformation done by Roblox to many `i32` values.
 pub fn transform_i32(value: i32) -> i32 {
     (value << 1) ^ (value >> 31)
diff --git a/rbx_binary/src/deserializer/state.rs b/rbx_binary/src/deserializer/state.rs
index 4207f8b4..19155555 100644
--- a/rbx_binary/src/deserializer/state.rs
+++ b/rbx_binary/src/deserializer/state.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use rbx_reflection::{DataType, PropertyKind, PropertySerialization, ReflectionDa
 
 use crate::{
     chunk::Chunk,
-    core::{find_property_descriptors, RbxReadExt},
+    core::{find_property_descriptors, read_binary_string_slice, read_string_slice, RbxReadExt},
     types::Type,
 };
 
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ impl<'db, R: Read> DeserializerState<'db, R> {
     #[profiling::function]
     pub(super) fn decode_inst_chunk(&mut self, mut chunk: &[u8]) -> Result<(), InnerError> {
         let type_id = chunk.read_le_u32()?;
-        let type_name = chunk.read_string()?;
+        let type_name = read_string_slice(&mut chunk)?;
         let object_format = chunk.read_u8()?;
         let number_instances = chunk.read_le_u32()?;
 
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ impl<'db, R: Read> DeserializerState<'db, R> {
             .deserializer
             .database
             .classes
-            .get(type_name.as_str())
+            .get(type_name)
             .map(|class| class.default_properties.len())
             .unwrap_or(0);
 
@@ -305,10 +305,7 @@ impl<'db, R: Read> DeserializerState<'db, R> {
             self.instances_by_ref.insert(
                 referent,
                 Instance {
-                    builder: InstanceBuilder::with_property_capacity(
-                        type_name.as_str(),
-                        prop_capacity,
-                    ),
+                    builder: InstanceBuilder::with_property_capacity(type_name, prop_capacity),
                     children: Vec::new(),
                 },
             );
@@ -329,7 +326,7 @@ impl<'db, R: Read> DeserializerState<'db, R> {
     #[profiling::function]
     pub(super) fn decode_prop_chunk(&mut self, mut chunk: &[u8]) -> Result<(), InnerError> {
         let type_id = chunk.read_le_u32()?;
-        let prop_name = chunk.read_string()?;
+        let prop_name = read_string_slice(&mut chunk)?;
 
         let type_info = self
             .type_infos
@@ -382,8 +379,8 @@ impl<'db, R: Read> DeserializerState<'db, R> {
 
             for referent in &type_info.referents {
                 let instance = self.instances_by_ref.get_mut(referent).unwrap();
-                let binary_string = chunk.read_binary_string()?;
-                let value = match std::str::from_utf8(&binary_string) {
+                let binary_string = read_binary_string_slice(&mut chunk)?;
+                let value = match std::str::from_utf8(binary_string) {
                     Ok(value) => Cow::Borrowed(value),
                     Err(_) => {
                         log::warn!(
@@ -393,7 +390,7 @@ This may cause unexpected or broken behavior in your final results if you rely o
                             prop_name
                         );
 
-                        String::from_utf8_lossy(binary_string.as_ref())
+                        String::from_utf8_lossy(binary_string)
                     }
                 };
                 instance.builder.set_name(value);
@@ -406,7 +403,7 @@ This may cause unexpected or broken behavior in your final results if you rely o
             self.deserializer.database,
             binary_type,
             type_info.type_name,
-            prop_name.as_str().into(),
+            prop_name.into(),
         ) {
             property
         } else {
@@ -420,8 +417,8 @@ This may cause unexpected or broken behavior in your final results if you rely o
                 VariantType::String => {
                     for referent in &type_info.referents {
                         let instance = self.instances_by_ref.get_mut(referent).unwrap();
-                        let binary_string = chunk.read_binary_string()?;
-                        let value = match std::str::from_utf8(&binary_string) {
+                        let binary_string = read_binary_string_slice(&mut chunk)?;
+                        let value = match std::str::from_utf8(binary_string) {
                             Ok(value) => Cow::Borrowed(value),
                             Err(_) => {
                                 log::warn!(
@@ -431,7 +428,7 @@ This may cause unexpected or broken behavior in your final results if you rely o
                                     property.name
                                 );
 
-                                String::from_utf8_lossy(&binary_string)
+                                String::from_utf8_lossy(binary_string)
                             }
                         };
 
@@ -455,16 +452,15 @@ This may cause unexpected or broken behavior in your final results if you rely o
                 VariantType::Tags => {
                     for referent in &type_info.referents {
                         let instance = self.instances_by_ref.get_mut(referent).unwrap();
-                        let buffer = chunk.read_binary_string()?;
+                        let buffer = read_binary_string_slice(&mut chunk)?;
 
-                        let value = Tags::decode(buffer.as_ref()).map_err(|_| {
-                            InnerError::InvalidPropData {
+                        let value =
+                            Tags::decode(buffer).map_err(|_| InnerError::InvalidPropData {
                                 type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                                prop_name: prop_name.clone(),
+                                prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                                 valid_value: "a list of valid null-delimited UTF-8 strings",
                                 actual_value: "invalid UTF-8".to_string(),
-                            }
-                        })?;
+                            })?;
 
                         add_property(instance, &property, value.into());
                     }
@@ -472,9 +468,9 @@ This may cause unexpected or broken behavior in your final results if you rely o
                 VariantType::Attributes => {
                     for referent in &type_info.referents {
                         let instance = self.instances_by_ref.get_mut(referent).unwrap();
-                        let buffer = chunk.read_binary_string()?;
+                        let buffer = read_binary_string_slice(&mut chunk)?;
 
-                        match Attributes::from_reader(buffer.as_slice()) {
+                        match Attributes::from_reader(buffer) {
                             Ok(value) => {
                                 add_property(instance, &property, value.into());
                             }
@@ -499,8 +495,8 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 VariantType::MaterialColors => {
                     for referent in &type_info.referents {
                         let instance = self.instances_by_ref.get_mut(referent).unwrap();
-                        let buffer = chunk.read_binary_string()?;
-                        match MaterialColors::decode(&buffer) {
+                        let buffer = read_binary_string_slice(&mut chunk)?;
+                        match MaterialColors::decode(buffer) {
                             Ok(value) => add_property(instance, &property, value.into()),
                             Err(err) => {
                                 log::warn!(
@@ -523,7 +519,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names:
                             "String, ContentId, Content, Tags, Attributes, or BinaryString",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
@@ -541,7 +537,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Bool",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -573,7 +569,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Int32",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -592,7 +588,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Float32",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -622,7 +618,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Float64",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -649,7 +645,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "UDim",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -688,7 +684,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "UDim2",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -720,7 +716,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Ray",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -734,7 +730,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                         let faces =
                             Faces::from_bits(value).ok_or_else(|| InnerError::InvalidPropData {
                                 type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                                prop_name: prop_name.clone(),
+                                prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                                 valid_value: "less than 63",
                                 actual_value: value.to_string(),
                             })?;
@@ -745,7 +741,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Faces",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -760,7 +756,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                         let axes =
                             Axes::from_bits(value).ok_or_else(|| InnerError::InvalidPropData {
                                 type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                                prop_name: prop_name.clone(),
+                                prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                                 valid_value: "less than 7",
                                 actual_value: value.to_string(),
                             })?;
@@ -771,7 +767,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Axes",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -790,7 +786,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                             .and_then(BrickColor::from_number)
                             .ok_or_else(|| InnerError::InvalidPropData {
                                 type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                                prop_name: prop_name.clone(),
+                                prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                                 valid_value: "a valid BrickColor",
                                 actual_value: value.to_string(),
                             })?;
@@ -801,7 +797,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "BrickColor",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -831,7 +827,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Color3",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -855,7 +851,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Vector2",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -885,7 +881,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Vector3",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -921,7 +917,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                         } else {
                             return Err(InnerError::BadRotationId {
                                 type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                                prop_name,
+                                prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                                 id,
                             });
                         }
@@ -951,7 +947,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "CFrame",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -970,7 +966,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Enum",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -995,7 +991,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Ref",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1020,7 +1016,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Vector3int16",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1058,7 +1054,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Font",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1085,7 +1081,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "NumberSequence",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1118,7 +1114,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "ColorSequence",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1138,7 +1134,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "NumberRange",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1171,7 +1167,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Rect",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1201,7 +1197,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "PhysicalProperties",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1232,7 +1228,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Color3",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1251,7 +1247,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Int64",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1267,7 +1263,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                             self.shared_strings.get(value as usize).ok_or_else(|| {
                                 InnerError::InvalidPropData {
                                     type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                                    prop_name: prop_name.clone(),
+                                    prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                                     valid_value: "a valid SharedString",
                                     actual_value: format!("{:?}", value),
                                 }
@@ -1281,7 +1277,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "SharedString",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     })
@@ -1329,7 +1325,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                         } else {
                             return Err(InnerError::BadRotationId {
                                 type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                                prop_name,
+                                prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                                 id,
                             });
                         }
@@ -1377,7 +1373,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "OptionalCFrame",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1407,7 +1403,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "UniqueId",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1432,7 +1428,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "SecurityCapabilities",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });
@@ -1483,7 +1479,7 @@ rbx-dom may require changes to fully support this property. Please open an issue
                 invalid_type => {
                     return Err(InnerError::PropTypeMismatch {
                         type_name: type_info.type_name.to_string(),
-                        prop_name,
+                        prop_name: prop_name.to_owned(),
                         valid_type_names: "Content",
                         actual_type_name: format!("{:?}", invalid_type),
                     });