diff --git a/core/src/com/google/zxing/datamatrix/decoder/DecodedBitStreamParser.java b/core/src/com/google/zxing/datamatrix/decoder/DecodedBitStreamParser.java
index b390fb908..859848b88 100644
--- a/core/src/com/google/zxing/datamatrix/decoder/DecodedBitStreamParser.java
+++ b/core/src/com/google/zxing/datamatrix/decoder/DecodedBitStreamParser.java
@@ -168,7 +168,12 @@ final class DecodedBitStreamParser {
         //throw ReaderException.getInstance();
         // Ignore this symbol for now
       } else if (oneByte >= 242) {  // Not to be used in ASCII encodation
-        throw FormatException.getFormatInstance();
+        // ... but work around encoders that end with 254, latch back to ASCII
+        if (oneByte == 254 && bits.available() == 0) {
+          // Ignore
+        } else {
+          throw FormatException.getFormatInstance();
+        }
       }
     } while (bits.available() > 0);
     return ASCII_ENCODE;