diff --git a/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaBook.java b/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaBook.java
index debca310e1..0c69a3e73b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaBook.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaBook.java
@@ -78,7 +78,11 @@ class CraftMetaBook extends CraftMetaItem implements BookMeta {
             for (int i = 0; i < pages.size(); i++) {
                 String page = pages.getString(i);
                 if (resolved) {
-                    page = CraftChatMessage.fromComponent(ChatSerializer.a(page));
+                    try {
+                        page = CraftChatMessage.fromComponent(ChatSerializer.a(page));
+                    } catch (Exception e) {
+                        // Ignore and treat as an old book
+                    }
                 }
                 pageArray[i] = page;
             }
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaBookSigned.java b/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaBookSigned.java
index fd8ba56d9c..8c3d3a4405 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaBookSigned.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/inventory/CraftMetaBookSigned.java
@@ -39,7 +39,11 @@ class CraftMetaBookSigned extends CraftMetaBook implements BookMeta {
             for (int i = 0; i < pages.size(); i++) {
                 String page = pages.getString(i);
                 if (resolved) {
-                    page = CraftChatMessage.fromComponent(ChatSerializer.a(page));
+                    try {
+                        page = CraftChatMessage.fromComponent(ChatSerializer.a(page));
+                    } catch (Exception e) {
+                        // Ignore and treat as an old book
+                    }
                 }
                 pageArray[i] = page;
             }