diff --git a/crates/cms/src/lutfile.rs b/crates/cms/src/lutfile.rs
index 40a66d7d18..af7f9106f8 100644
--- a/crates/cms/src/lutfile.rs
+++ b/crates/cms/src/lutfile.rs
@@ -246,9 +246,9 @@ pub fn parse_3dl(text: &str) -> Result<LutFile, LutError> {
         if line.is_empty() {
             continue;
         }
-        // Headers: `Mesh 4 12` and the like start with a letter; the `3DMESH` preamble with a digit.
-        let preamble = line.split_whitespace().next().is_some_and(|t| t.eq_ignore_ascii_case("3DMESH"));
-        if preamble || line.starts_with(|c: char| c.is_ascii_alphabetic()) {
+        // A header (`3DMESH`, `Mesh 4 12`…) starts with a word that isn't a number. `NaN` and
+        // `inf` are numbers: a row starting with one is a shaper or table row, read strictly.
+        if line.split_whitespace().next().is_none_or(|t| t.parse::<f64>().is_err()) {
             header = true;
             // The only header keyword that carries data. A malformed or out-of-range `Mesh`
             // line is ignored, as every text line always was.
@@ -671,6 +671,17 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// #9170 review: a shaper row that starts with `NaN` or `inf` is a shaper, not a header, so
+    /// it reaches the non-finite refusal instead of being skipped.
+    #[test]
+    fn three_dl_shaper_starting_non_finite_is_refused() {
+        let body = identity_3dl(&[0, 1, 2, 3], 4);
+        let body = body.split_once('\n').unwrap().1;
+        for shaper in ["NaN 341 682 1023", "inf 341 682 1023", "-inf 341 682 1023"] {
+            assert!(parse_3dl(&format!("{shaper}\n{body}")).is_err(), "{shaper}");
+        }
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn cube_title_with_hash_round_trips() {
         let l = LutFile::from_fn("Look #3", 2, |c| c);