diff --git a/tape/dynamic.go b/tape/dynamic.go
index 44c1a4b..5b90ff9 100644
--- a/tape/dynamic.go
+++ b/tape/dynamic.go
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ import "reflect"
 var dummyMap map[uint16] any
 var dummyBuffer []byte
 
+type errCantAssign string
+func (err errCantAssign) Error() string {
+	return string(err)
+}
+func errCantAssignf(format string, v ...any) errCantAssign {
+	return errCantAssign(fmt.Sprintf(format, v...))
+}
+
 // EncodeAny encodes an "any" value. Returns an error if the underlying type is
 // unsupported. Supported types are:
 //
@@ -83,20 +91,34 @@ type unknownSlicePlaceholder struct { }
 var unknownSlicePlaceholderType = reflect.TypeOf(unknownSlicePlaceholder { })
 
 // decodeAny is internal to [DecodeAny]. It takes in an addressable
-// [reflect.Value] as the destination.
+// [reflect.Value] as the destination. If the decoded value cannot fit in the
+// destination, it skims over the payload, leaves the destination empty, and
+// returns without an error.
 func decodeAny(decoder *Decoder, destination reflect.Value, tag Tag) (n int, err error) {
-	errWrongDestinationType := func(expected string) error {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf(
-		// return fmt.Errorf(
-			"expected %s destination, not %v",
-			expected, destination))
+	n, err = decodeAnyOrError(decoder, destination, tag)
+	if _, ok := err.(errCantAssign); ok {
+		if n > 0 { panic(fmt.Sprintf("decodeAnyOrError decoded more than it should: %d", n)) }
+		nn, err := Skim(decoder, tag)
+		n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
+		return n, nil
 	}
+	return n, err
+}
+
+// decodeAnyOrError is internal to [decodeAny]. It takes in an addressable
+// [reflect.Value] as the destination. If the decoded value cannot fit in the
+// destination, it decodes nothing and returns an error of type errCantAssign,
+// except for the case of a mismatched OTA element tag, wherein it will skim
+// over the rest of the payload, leave the destination empty, and return without
+// an error.
+func decodeAnyOrError(decoder *Decoder, destination reflect.Value, tag Tag) (n int, err error) {
+	err = canSet(destination.Type(), tag)
+	if err != nil { return n, err }
 	
 	switch tag.WithoutCN() {
 	case SI:
 		// SI: (none)
-		err = setInt(destination, uint64(tag.CN()))
-		if err != nil { return n, err }
+		setInt(destination, uint64(tag.CN()))
 	case LI:
 		// LI: <value: IntN>
 		nn, err := decodeAndSetUint(decoder, destination, tag.CN() + 1)
@@ -114,8 +136,7 @@ func decodeAny(decoder *Decoder, destination reflect.Value, tag Tag) (n int, err
 		buffer := make([]byte, tag.CN())
 		nn, err := decoder.Read(buffer)
 		n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
-		err = setByteArray(destination, buffer)
-		if err != nil { return n, err }
+		setByteArray(destination, buffer)
 	case LBA:
 		// LBA: <length: UN> <data: U8>*
 		length, nn, err := decoder.ReadUintN(tag.CN() + 1)
@@ -123,34 +144,42 @@ func decodeAny(decoder *Decoder, destination reflect.Value, tag Tag) (n int, err
 		buffer := make([]byte, length)
 		nn, err = decoder.Read(buffer)
 		n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
-		err = setByteArray(destination, buffer)
-		if err != nil { return n, err }
+		setByteArray(destination, buffer)
 	case OTA:
 		// OTA: <length: UN> <elementTag: tape.Tag> <values>*
 		length, nn, err := decoder.ReadUintN(tag.CN() + 1)
 		n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
 		oneTag, nn, err := decoder.ReadTag()
 		n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
-		if destination.Kind() != reflect.Slice {
-			return n, errWrongDestinationType("slice")
-		}
 		if destination.Cap() < int(length) {
 			destination.Grow(int(length) - destination.Cap())
 		}
+		// skip the rest of the array if the one tag doesn't
+		// match up with the destination
+		err = canSet(destination.Type().Elem(), oneTag)
+		if _, ok := err.(errCantAssign); ok {
+			for _ = range length {
+				nn, err := Skim(decoder, oneTag)
+				n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
+			}
+			break
+		}
+		if err != nil { return n, err }
 		destination.SetLen(int(length))
 		for index := range length {
 			nn, err := decodeAny(decoder, destination.Index(int(index)), oneTag)
-			n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
+			n += nn
+			if _, ok := err.(errCantAssign); ok {
+				continue
+			} else if err != nil {
+				return n, err
+			}
 		}
 	case KTV:
 		// KTV: <length: UN> (<key: U16> <tag: Tag> <value>)*
-		table := destination
-		if table.Type() != reflect.TypeOf(dummyMap) {
-			return n, errWrongDestinationType("map[uint16] any")
-		}
 		length, nn, err := decoder.ReadUintN(tag.CN() + 1)
 		n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
-		table.Clear()
+		destination.Clear()
 		for _ = range length {
 			key, nn, err := decoder.ReadUint16()
 			n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
@@ -160,7 +189,7 @@ func decodeAny(decoder *Decoder, destination reflect.Value, tag Tag) (n int, err
 			if err != nil { return n, err }
 			nn, err = decodeAny(decoder, value.Elem(), itemTag)
 			n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
-			table.SetMapIndex(reflect.ValueOf(key), value.Elem())
+			destination.SetMapIndex(reflect.ValueOf(key), value.Elem())
 		}
 	default:
 		return n, fmt.Errorf("unknown TN %d", tag.TN())
@@ -254,53 +283,79 @@ func encodeAnyMap(encoder *Encoder, value any, tag Tag) (n int, err error) {
 	return n, nil
 }
 
+func canSet(destination reflect.Type, tag Tag) error {
+	switch tag.WithoutCN() {
+	case SI, LI, LSI:
+		switch destination.Kind() {
+		case
+			reflect.Int, reflect.Int8, reflect.Int16, reflect.Int32, reflect.Int64,
+			reflect.Uint, reflect.Uint8, reflect.Uint16, reflect.Uint32, reflect.Uint64:
+		default:
+			return errCantAssignf("cannot assign integer to %v", destination)
+		}
+	case FP:
+		switch destination.Kind() {
+		case reflect.Float32, reflect.Float64:
+		default:
+			return errCantAssignf("cannot assign float to %v", destination)
+		}
+	case SBA, LBA:
+		if destination.Kind() != reflect.Slice {
+			return errCantAssignf("cannot assign byte array to %v", destination)
+		}
+		if destination.Elem() != reflect.TypeOf(byte(0)) {
+			return errCantAssignf("cannot convert %v to *[]byte", destination)
+		}
+	case OTA:
+		if destination.Kind() != reflect.Slice {
+			return errCantAssignf("cannot assign array to %v", destination)
+		}
+	case KTV:
+		if destination != reflect.TypeOf(dummyMap) {
+			return errCantAssignf("cannot assign table to %v", destination)
+		}
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("unknown TN %d", tag.TN())
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // setInt expects a settable destination.
-func setInt[T int64 | uint64](destination reflect.Value, value T) error {
+func setInt[T int64 | uint64](destination reflect.Value, value T) {
 	switch {
 	case destination.CanInt():
 		destination.Set(reflect.ValueOf(int64(value)).Convert(destination.Type()))
 	case destination.CanUint():
 		destination.Set(reflect.ValueOf(value).Convert(destination.Type()))
 	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot assign integer to %T", destination.Interface())
+		panic("setInt called on an unsupported type")
 	}
-	return nil
 }
 
 // setFloat expects a settable destination.
-func setFloat(destination reflect.Value, value float64) error {
-	if !destination.CanFloat() {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot assign float to %T", destination.Interface())
-	}
+func setFloat(destination reflect.Value, value float64) {
 	destination.Set(reflect.ValueOf(value).Convert(destination.Type()))
-	return nil
 }
 
 // setByteArrayexpects a settable destination.
-func setByteArray(destination reflect.Value, value []byte) error {
-	typ := destination.Type()
-	if typ.Kind() != reflect.Slice {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot assign %T to ", value)
-	}
-	if typ.Elem() != reflect.TypeOf(byte(0)) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot convert %T to *[]byte", value)
-	}
+func setByteArray(destination reflect.Value, value []byte) {
 	destination.Set(reflect.ValueOf(value))
-	return nil
 }
 
 // decodeAndSetInt expects a settable destination.
 func decodeAndSetInt(decoder *Decoder, destination reflect.Value, bytes int) (n int, err error) {
 	value, nn, err := decoder.ReadIntN(bytes)
 	n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
-	return n, setInt(destination, value)
+	setInt(destination, value)
+	return n, nil
 }
 
 // decodeAndSetUint expects a settable destination.
 func decodeAndSetUint(decoder *Decoder, destination reflect.Value, bytes int) (n int, err error) {
 	value, nn, err := decoder.ReadUintN(bytes)
 	n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
-	return n, setInt(destination, value)
+	setInt(destination, value)
+	return n, nil
 }
 
 // decodeAndSetInt expects a settable destination.
@@ -309,13 +364,15 @@ func decodeAndSetFloat(decoder *Decoder, destination reflect.Value, bytes int) (
 	case 8:
 		value, nn, err := decoder.ReadFloat64()
 		n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
-		return n, setFloat(destination, float64(value))
+		setFloat(destination, float64(value))
+		return n, nil
 	case 4:
 		value, nn, err := decoder.ReadFloat32()
 		n += nn; if err != nil { return n, err }
-		return n, setFloat(destination, float64(value))
+		setFloat(destination, float64(value))
+		return n, nil
 	}
-	return n, fmt.Errorf("cannot decode float%d", bytes * 8)
+	return n, errCantAssignf("unsupported bit width float%d", bytes * 8)
 }
 
 // skeletonValue returns a pointer value. In order for it to be set, it must be
diff --git a/tape/dynamic_test.go b/tape/dynamic_test.go
index b77655c..7e7bab7 100644
--- a/tape/dynamic_test.go
+++ b/tape/dynamic_test.go
@@ -74,6 +74,101 @@ func TestEncodeAnyTable(test *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil { test.Fatal(err) }
 }
 
+func TestDecodeWrongType(test *testing.T) {
+	datas := [][]byte {
+		/* int8     */ []byte { byte(LSI.WithCN(0)), 0x45 },
+		/* int16    */ []byte { byte(LSI.WithCN(1)), 0x45, 0x67 },
+		/* int32    */ []byte { byte(LSI.WithCN(3)), 0x45, 0x67, 0x89, 0xAB },
+		/* int64    */ []byte { byte(LSI.WithCN(7)), 0x45, 0x67, 0x89, 0xAB, 0xCD, 0xEF, 0x01, 0x23 },
+		/* uint5    */ []byte { byte(SI.WithCN(12)) },
+		/* uint8    */ []byte { byte(LI.WithCN(0)), 0x45 },
+		/* uint16   */ []byte { byte(LI.WithCN(1)), 0x45, 0x67 },
+		/* uint32   */ []byte { byte(LI.WithCN(3)), 0x45, 0x67, 0x89, 0xAB },
+		/* uint64   */ []byte { byte(LI.WithCN(7)), 0x45, 0x67, 0x89, 0xAB, 0xCD, 0xEF, 0x01, 0x23 },
+		/* string   */ []byte { byte(SBA.WithCN(7)), 'p', 'u', 'p', 'e', 'v', 'e', 'r' },
+		/* []byte   */ []byte { byte(SBA.WithCN(5)), 'b', 'l', 'a', 'r', 'g' },
+		/* []string */ []byte {
+			byte(OTA.WithCN(0)), 2, byte(LBA.WithCN(0)),
+			0x08, 0x45, 0x67, 0x89, 0xAB, 0xCD, 0xEF, 0x01, 0x23,
+			0x05, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11, 0x11,
+		},
+		/* map[uint16] any */ []byte {
+			byte(KTV.WithCN(0)), 2,
+			0x02, 0x23, byte(LSI.WithCN(1)), 0x45, 0x67,
+			0x02, 0x23, byte(LI.WithCN(3)),  0x45, 0x67, 0x89, 0xAB,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for index, data := range datas {
+		test.Logf("data %2d %v [%s]", index, Tag(data[0]), tu.HexBytes(data[1:]))
+		// integers should only assign to other integers
+		if index > 8 {
+			cas := func(destination any) {
+				n, err := DecodeAny(NewDecoder(bytes.NewBuffer(data[1:])), destination, Tag(data[0]))
+				if err != nil { test.Fatalf("error: %v | n: %d", err, n) }
+				reflectValue := reflect.ValueOf(destination).Elem()
+				if reflectValue.CanInt() {
+					if reflectValue.Int() != 0 {
+						test.Fatalf("destination not zero: %v", reflectValue.Elem().Interface())
+					}
+				} else {
+					if reflectValue.Uint() != 0 {
+						test.Fatalf("destination not zero: %v", reflectValue.Elem().Interface())
+					}
+				}
+				if n != len(data) - 1 {
+					test.Fatalf("n not equal: %d != %d", n, len(data) - 1)
+				}
+			}
+			test.Log("- int8")
+			{ var dest int8;   cas(&dest) }
+			test.Log("- int16")
+			{ var dest int16;  cas(&dest) }
+			test.Log("- int32")
+			{ var dest int32;  cas(&dest) }
+			test.Log("- int64")
+			{ var dest int64;  cas(&dest) }
+			test.Log("- uint8")
+			{ var dest uint8;  cas(&dest) }
+			test.Log("- uint16")
+			{ var dest uint16; cas(&dest) }
+			test.Log("- uint32")
+			{ var dest uint32; cas(&dest) }
+			test.Log("- uint64")
+			{ var dest uint64; cas(&dest) }
+		}
+		arrayCase := func(destination any) {
+			n, err := DecodeAny(NewDecoder(bytes.NewBuffer(data[1:])), destination, Tag(data[0]))
+			if err != nil { test.Fatalf("error: %v | n: %d", err, n) }
+			reflectDestination := reflect.ValueOf(destination)
+			reflectValue := reflectDestination.Elem()
+			if reflectValue.Len() != 0 {
+				test.Fatalf("len(destination) not zero: %v", reflectValue.Interface())
+			}
+			if n != len(data) - 1 {
+				test.Fatalf("n not equal: %d != %d", n, len(data) - 1)
+			}
+		}
+		// SBA/LBA types should only assign to other SBA/LBA types
+		if index != 9 && index != 10 {
+			test.Log("- string")
+			{ var dest string; arrayCase(&dest) }
+			test.Log("- []byte")
+			{ var dest []byte; arrayCase(&dest) }
+		}
+		// arrays should only assign to other arrays
+		if index != 11 {
+			test.Log("- []string")
+			{ var dest []string; arrayCase(&dest) }
+		}
+		// tables should only assign to other tables
+		if index != 12 {
+			test.Log("- map[uint16] any")
+			{ var dest = map[uint16] any { }; arrayCase(&dest) }
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestEncodeDecodeAnyTable(test *testing.T) {
 	err := testEncodeDecodeAny(test, map[uint16] any {
 		0xF3B9: uint32(1),