diff --git a/crates/kra/src/lib.rs b/crates/kra/src/lib.rs
index 12ae3468b..71b7b8ff8 100644
--- a/crates/kra/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/kra/src/lib.rs
@@ -247,7 +247,10 @@ impl Image {
             limits: craft_xml::Limits { max_input: MAX_MAINDOC, max_depth: MAX_XML_DEPTH, ..craft_xml::Limits::DEFAULT },
             ..craft_xml::Options::local().strict()
         };
-        let root = options.parse(maindoc).map_err(|e| invalid(format!("maindoc.xml: {e}")))?;
+        let root = options.parse(maindoc).map_err(|e| match e {
+            craft_xml::Error::Doctype => invalid("maindoc.xml: an internal DTD is not accepted"),
+            other => invalid(format!("maindoc.xml: {other}")),
+        })?;
         let image = root.child("IMAGE").ok_or_else(|| invalid("maindoc.xml has no IMAGE"))?;
         let side = |a: &str| -> Result<u32> {
             let v = number(image, a, 0.0)?;