diff --git a/data_types.go b/data_types.go
index c557e8a..12820f4 100644
--- a/data_types.go
+++ b/data_types.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 package groupme
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"regexp"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -23,6 +24,20 @@ func (id ID) String() string {
 	return string(id)
 }
 
+// UnmarshalJSON also accepts numeric IDs, which GroupMe relays unchanged from
+// clients that send them.
+func (id *ID) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
+	if len(data) > 0 && data[0] != '"' {
+		var num json.Number
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &num); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		*id = ID(num)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return json.Unmarshal(data, (*string)(id))
+}
+
 // Timestamp is the number of seconds since the UNIX epoch
 type Timestamp uint64
 
diff --git a/real_time.go b/real_time.go
index 93c5fba..886d596 100644
--- a/real_time.go
+++ b/real_time.go
@@ -119,6 +119,12 @@ func NewPushSubscription(context context.Context) *PushSubscription {
 	return &r
 }
 
+func (r *PushSubscription) reportError(err error) {
+	for _, h := range r.handlers {
+		h.HandleError(err)
+	}
+}
+
 func (r *PushSubscription) AddHandler(h Handler) {
 	r.handlers = append(r.handlers, h)
 }
diff --git a/real_time_handler.go b/real_time_handler.go
index 5ef20ac..507cd97 100644
--- a/real_time_handler.go
+++ b/real_time_handler.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package groupme
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
 	"strconv"
 )
 
@@ -59,7 +60,10 @@ func init() {
 			return
 		}
 		var out Message
-		if json.Unmarshal(b, &out) != nil || out.ID == "" {
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &out); err != nil {
+			r.reportError(fmt.Errorf("failed to decode GroupMe push message: %w", err))
+			return
+		} else if out.ID == "" {
 			return
 		}
 		if out.ConversationID == "" {