diff --git a/tests/storage/dav/test_main.py b/tests/storage/dav/test_main.py
index e48d5d5..1ac356f 100644
--- a/tests/storage/dav/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/storage/dav/test_main.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from tests import EVENT_TEMPLATE, TASK_TEMPLATE, VCARD_TEMPLATE
 
 import vdirsyncer.exceptions as exceptions
 from vdirsyncer.storage.base import Item
-from vdirsyncer.storage.dav import CaldavStorage, CarddavStorage
+from vdirsyncer.storage.dav import CaldavStorage, CarddavStorage, _parse_xml
 
 from .. import StorageTests, format_item
 
@@ -183,3 +183,10 @@ class TestCarddavStorage(DavStorageTests):
     @pytest.fixture(params=['VCARD'])
     def item_type(self, request):
         return request.param
+
+
+def test_broken_xml(capsys):
+    rv = _parse_xml(b'<h1>\x10haha</h1>')
+    assert rv.text == 'haha'
+    warnings = capsys.readouterr()[1]
+    assert 'partially invalid xml' in warnings.lower()
diff --git a/vdirsyncer/storage/dav.py b/vdirsyncer/storage/dav.py
index a5136ed..640c062 100644
--- a/vdirsyncer/storage/dav.py
+++ b/vdirsyncer/storage/dav.py
@@ -42,12 +42,18 @@ class InvalidXMLResponse(exceptions.InvalidResponse):
 
 
 def _parse_xml(content):
-    try:
-        return etree.XML(content)
-    except etree.Error as e:
+    p = etree.XMLParser(recover=True)
+    rv = etree.XML(content, parser=p)
+    if rv is None:
         raise InvalidXMLResponse('Invalid XML encountered: {}\n'
                                  'Double-check the URLs in your config.'
-                                 .format(e))
+                                 .format(p.error_log))
+    if p.error_log:
+        dav_logger.warning('Partially invalid XML response, some of your '
+                           'items may be corrupted. Check the debug log and '
+                           'consider switching servers. ({})'
+                           .format(p.error_log))
+    return rv
 
 
 def _merge_xml(items):