diff --git a/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberInspector.test.ts b/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberInspector.test.ts
index a79df5c88b..d3a1ce6f27 100644
--- a/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberInspector.test.ts
+++ b/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberInspector.test.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ import { edges } from "./ManagedMemberRows.js";
 import { parseUserStrings } from "./ManagedUserStrings.js";
 import { signature, type ManagedMethod } from "./ManagedMemberInspectorCore.js";
 import { ManagedReaderFailure } from "./ManagedReaderFailure.js";
+import { managedTypeReferences } from "./ManagedTypeReferences.js";
+import type { ManagedParseIssue } from "../domain/managed/managedArtifact.js";
 import { managedMemberInspectionSchema } from "../domain/managed/managedArtifact.js";
 import { comparisonLimitations } from "../domain/managed/managedMemberComparisonCoverage.js";
 import { buildManagedPeFixture as buildMultiMethodManagedPeFixture } from "../../scripts/fixtures/managed/pe.mjs";
@@ -637,6 +639,38 @@ describe("managed edge target declaring types", () => {
 });
 
 describe("managed TypeRef resolution scopes", () => {
+  it.each([0, 9])(
+    "retains invalid enclosing TypeRef row %s without granting scope validity",
+    (enclosingRow) => {
+      const bytes = buildManagedPeFixture({
+        typeRefScopeRaw: enclosingRow * 4 + 3,
+      });
+      const pe = readManagedPeLayout(bytes);
+      if (pe.cli === null) throw new Error("fixture has no CLI header");
+      const { rva, size } = pe.cli.metadata;
+      const layout = readManagedMetadataLayout(
+        bytes,
+        pe.rvaToOffset(rva, size, "metadata"),
+        size,
+      );
+      const issues: ManagedParseIssue[] = [];
+      const reference = managedTypeReferences(bytes, layout, issues)(1);
+
+      expect(reference).toMatchObject({ enclosingRow, scopeValid: false });
+      expect(issues).toMatchObject([
+        {
+          code: "invalid-row",
+          scope: "metadata.TypeRef:0x01000001",
+          detail: expect.stringContaining(
+            enclosingRow === 0
+              ? "coded index selects row zero in table 1"
+              : "coded index selects row 9 in table 1, which has 1 rows",
+          ),
+        },
+      ]);
+    },
+  );
+
   it.each([
     // AssemblyRef 9 does not exist.
     ["an invalid", (9 << 2) | 2, "is invalid"],
diff --git a/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberInspectorCore.ts b/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberInspectorCore.ts
index 831b6849cd..b30596a91f 100644
--- a/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberInspectorCore.ts
+++ b/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberInspectorCore.ts
@@ -23,8 +23,7 @@ import type {
 } from "./ManagedMetadataLayout.js";
 import {
   metadataRowCursor,
-  metadataCodedToken,
-  metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason,
+  decodeMetadataCodedIndex,
   metadataToken,
   readMetadataString,
   sha256Bytes,
@@ -242,18 +241,18 @@ export const parseTypes = (
       definition.methodStart,
       definition.methodEnd,
     );
-    const extendsReason = metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason(
+    const extendsIndex = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
       extendsRaw,
       2,
       [2, 1, 27],
       layout.rowCounts,
     );
-    if (extendsReason !== null)
+    if (extendsIndex.kind === "invalid")
       issues.push({
         code: "invalid-row",
         scope: `metadata.TypeDef:${token}`,
         offset: extendsOffset,
-        detail: `TypeDef Extends coded index 0x${extendsRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${extendsReason}`,
+        detail: `TypeDef Extends coded index 0x${extendsRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${extendsIndex.reason}`,
       });
     const enclosingRow = nesting.enclosing.get(row);
     items.push({
@@ -263,12 +262,7 @@ export const parseTypes = (
       name,
       full_name: definition.fullName,
       flags,
-      extends_token: metadataCodedToken(
-        extendsRaw,
-        2,
-        [2, 1, 27],
-        layout.rowCounts,
-      ),
+      extends_token: extendsIndex.kind === "valid" ? extendsIndex.token : null,
       enclosing_type_token:
         enclosingRow === undefined ? null : metadataToken(2, enclosingRow),
       name_sha256: null,
@@ -530,20 +524,17 @@ const readTypeOperand = (
 ): ReturnType<typeof readCompressed> => {
   const token = readCompressed(blob, offset);
   if (layout !== undefined) {
-    const reason =
-      token.value === 0
-        ? "type operand is null"
-        : metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason(
-            token.value,
-            2,
-            tables,
-            layout.rowCounts,
-          );
-    if (reason !== null)
+    const decoded = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
+      token.value,
+      2,
+      tables,
+      layout.rowCounts,
+    );
+    if (decoded.kind !== "valid")
       throw managedFailure(
         "invalid-row",
         "signature",
-        `TypeDefOrRefOrSpec operand 0x${token.value.toString(16)} is invalid: ${reason}`,
+        `TypeDefOrRefOrSpec operand 0x${token.value.toString(16)} is invalid: ${decoded.kind === "null" ? "type operand is null" : decoded.reason}`,
         offset,
       );
   }
diff --git a/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberRows.ts b/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberRows.ts
index bfe5c950fe..9a94157896 100644
--- a/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberRows.ts
+++ b/src/dotnet/ManagedMemberRows.ts
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ import {
 import {
   metadataToken,
   metadataRowCursor,
-  metadataCodedToken,
-  metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason,
+  decodeMetadataCodedIndex,
   readMetadataBlob,
   readMetadataString,
 } from "./ManagedMetadataHeaps.js";
@@ -172,21 +171,21 @@ export const parseExportedTypes = (
         layout.codedIndexSize("Implementation"),
       );
       const token = metadataToken(39, row);
-      const implementationReason = metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason(
+      const implementation = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
         implementationRaw,
         2,
         [38, 35, 39],
         layout.rowCounts,
       );
-      if (implementationReason !== null || implementationRaw === 0)
+      if (implementation.kind !== "valid")
         issues.push({
           code: "invalid-row",
           scope: `metadata.ExportedType:${token}`,
           offset: implementationOffset,
           detail:
-            implementationReason === null
+            implementation.kind === "null"
               ? "ExportedType implementation coded index 0x0 is null, but the Implementation column must reference a row"
-              : `ExportedType implementation coded index 0x${implementationRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${implementationReason}`,
+              : `ExportedType implementation coded index 0x${implementationRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${implementation.reason}`,
         });
       exportedTypes.push({
         token,
@@ -196,12 +195,8 @@ export const parseExportedTypes = (
         flags,
         forwarder: (flags & TYPE_FORWARDER_FLAG) !== 0,
         type_def_id: typeDefId,
-        implementation_token: metadataCodedToken(
-          implementationRaw,
-          2,
-          [38, 35, 39],
-          layout.rowCounts,
-        ),
+        implementation_token:
+          implementation.kind === "valid" ? implementation.token : null,
       });
     }, issues);
   }
@@ -241,28 +236,23 @@ export const parseMemberRefs = (
         layout.blob?.size ?? 0,
       );
       const token = metadataToken(10, row);
-      const parentReason = metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason(
+      const parent = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
         parentRaw,
         3,
         [2, 1, 26, 6, 27],
         layout.rowCounts,
       );
-      if (parentReason !== null || parentRaw === 0)
+      if (parent.kind !== "valid")
         issues.push({
           code: "invalid-row",
           scope: `metadata.MemberRef:${token}`,
           offset: cursor.start,
           detail:
-            parentReason === null
+            parent.kind === "null"
               ? "MemberRef parent coded index 0x0 is null, but the Class column must reference a row"
-              : `MemberRef parent coded index 0x${parentRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${parentReason}`,
+              : `MemberRef parent coded index 0x${parentRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${parent.reason}`,
         });
-      const parentToken = metadataCodedToken(
-        parentRaw,
-        3,
-        [2, 1, 26, 6, 27],
-        layout.rowCounts,
-      );
+      const parentToken = parent.kind === "valid" ? parent.token : null;
       const parentName = typeName(parentToken);
       const decoded = budgetedSignature(
         sig,
diff --git a/src/dotnet/ManagedMetadataHeaps.ts b/src/dotnet/ManagedMetadataHeaps.ts
index 50e5d56a83..3ffe809e9e 100644
--- a/src/dotnet/ManagedMetadataHeaps.ts
+++ b/src/dotnet/ManagedMetadataHeaps.ts
@@ -392,37 +392,53 @@ export const metadataRowCursor = (
   );
 };
 
-/** Decode a metadata coded index without signed 32-bit coercion. */
-export const metadataCodedToken = (
-  raw: number,
-  bits: number,
-  tables: readonly (number | undefined)[],
-  rowCounts: readonly number[],
-): string | null => {
-  if (raw === 0) return null;
-  const tag = raw & (2 ** bits - 1);
-  const row = Math.floor(raw / 2 ** bits);
-  const table = tables[tag];
-  return table === undefined || row === 0 || row > (rowCounts[table] ?? 0)
-    ? null
-    : metadataToken(table, row);
-};
+export type ManagedCodedIndex =
+  | { readonly kind: "null" }
+  | {
+      readonly kind: "valid";
+      readonly token: string;
+      readonly table: number;
+      readonly row: number;
+    }
+  | {
+      readonly kind: "invalid";
+      readonly reason: string;
+      readonly table: number | undefined;
+      readonly row: number;
+    };
 
-/** Explain why a non-null coded index cannot name an admitted metadata row. */
-export const metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason = (
+/** Decode and validate a metadata coded index without signed row coercion. */
+export const decodeMetadataCodedIndex = (
   raw: number,
   bits: number,
   tables: readonly (number | undefined)[],
   rowCounts: readonly number[],
-): string | null => {
-  if (raw === 0) return null;
+): ManagedCodedIndex => {
+  if (raw === 0) return { kind: "null" };
   const tag = raw & (2 ** bits - 1);
   const row = Math.floor(raw / 2 ** bits);
   const table = tables[tag];
-  if (table === undefined) return `coded index tag ${tag} is not defined`;
-  if (row === 0) return `coded index selects row zero in table ${table}`;
+  if (table === undefined)
+    return {
+      kind: "invalid",
+      reason: `coded index tag ${tag} is not defined`,
+      table,
+      row,
+    };
+  if (row === 0)
+    return {
+      kind: "invalid",
+      reason: `coded index selects row zero in table ${table}`,
+      table,
+      row,
+    };
   const count = rowCounts[table] ?? 0;
-  return row > count
-    ? `coded index selects row ${row} in table ${table}, which has ${count} rows`
-    : null;
+  if (row > count)
+    return {
+      kind: "invalid",
+      reason: `coded index selects row ${row} in table ${table}, which has ${count} rows`,
+      table,
+      row,
+    };
+  return { kind: "valid", token: metadataToken(table, row), table, row };
 };
diff --git a/src/dotnet/ManagedMetadataInventoryRows.ts b/src/dotnet/ManagedMetadataInventoryRows.ts
index 79563afb62..6bf3ccbb0b 100644
--- a/src/dotnet/ManagedMetadataInventoryRows.ts
+++ b/src/dotnet/ManagedMetadataInventoryRows.ts
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ import {
 } from "./ManagedMetadataLayout.js";
 import {
   metadataRowCursor,
-  metadataCodedToken,
-  metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason,
+  decodeMetadataCodedIndex,
+  type ManagedCodedIndex,
   metadataToken,
   readMetadataBlob,
   readMetadataGuid,
@@ -404,29 +404,28 @@ const declaringTypeForMethod = (
 const attributeTypeName = (
   bytes: Buffer,
   layout: ManagedMetadataLayout,
-  rawType: number,
+  constructor: Extract<ManagedCodedIndex, { readonly kind: "valid" }>,
   memberLists: TypeMemberListFacts,
   typeName: ManagedMetadataTypeNameLookup,
 ): string | null => {
-  const tag = rawType & 7;
-  const row = Math.floor(rawType / 8);
-  if (row === 0) return null;
-  if (tag === 2)
+  const { table, row } = constructor;
+  if (table === 6)
     return declaringTypeForMethod(bytes, layout, row, memberLists, typeName);
-  if (tag !== 3) return null;
-  const memberRefs = layout.table(10);
-  if (memberRefs === undefined || row > memberRefs.rowCount) return null;
   const cursor = metadataRowCursor(bytes, layout, 10, row);
-  const parent = cursor.readIndex(layout.codedIndexSize("MemberRefParent"));
-  const parentTag = parent & 7;
-  const parentRow = Math.floor(parent / 8);
-  if (parentTag === 0) return typeName(2, parentRow);
-  if (parentTag === 1) return typeName(1, parentRow);
-  if (parentTag === 3)
+  const parent = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
+    cursor.readIndex(layout.codedIndexSize("MemberRefParent")),
+    3,
+    [2, 1, 26, 6, 27],
+    layout.rowCounts,
+  );
+  if (parent.kind === "null") return null;
+  if (parent.table === 2 || parent.table === 1)
+    return typeName(parent.table, parent.row);
+  if (parent.table === 6)
     return declaringTypeForMethod(
       bytes,
       layout,
-      parentRow,
+      parent.row,
       memberLists,
       typeName,
     );
@@ -510,59 +509,48 @@ export const readCustomAttribute = (
     cursor.readIndex(layout.blobIndexSize),
     heapExtent,
   );
-  const parent = metadataCodedToken(
+  const parent = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
     parentRaw,
     5,
     HAS_CUSTOM_ATTRIBUTE_TABLES,
     layout.rowCounts,
   );
-  if (parent === null) {
-    const parentReason = metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason(
-      parentRaw,
-      5,
-      HAS_CUSTOM_ATTRIBUTE_TABLES,
-      layout.rowCounts,
-    );
+  if (parent.kind !== "valid") {
     throw managedFailure(
       "invalid-row",
       `metadata.CustomAttribute:${metadataToken(12, row)}`,
-      `CustomAttribute parent coded index 0x${parentRaw.toString(16)} is invalid${parentReason === null ? " because the required parent is null" : `: ${parentReason}`}`,
+      `CustomAttribute parent coded index 0x${parentRaw.toString(16)} is invalid${parent.kind === "null" ? " because the required parent is null" : `: ${parent.reason}`}`,
       cursor.start,
     );
   }
-  const constructor = metadataCodedToken(
+  const constructor = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
     typeRaw,
     3,
     CUSTOM_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_TABLES,
     layout.rowCounts,
   );
-  if (constructor === null) {
-    const typeReason = metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason(
-      typeRaw,
-      3,
-      CUSTOM_ATTRIBUTE_TYPE_TABLES,
-      layout.rowCounts,
-    );
+  if (constructor.kind !== "valid") {
     issues.push({
       code: "invalid-row",
       scope: `metadata.CustomAttribute:${metadataToken(12, row)}`,
       offset: typeOffset,
       detail:
-        typeReason === null
+        constructor.kind === "null"
           ? "CustomAttribute constructor coded index 0x0 is null, but Type must reference a MethodDef or MemberRef row"
-          : `CustomAttribute constructor coded index 0x${typeRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${typeReason}`,
+          : `CustomAttribute constructor coded index 0x${typeRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${constructor.reason}`,
     });
   }
   let typeName: string | null = null;
-  if (constructor !== null)
+  if (constructor.kind === "valid")
     typeName =
       readManagedValue(
-        () => attributeTypeName(bytes, layout, typeRaw, memberLists, typeNames),
+        () =>
+          attributeTypeName(bytes, layout, constructor, memberLists, typeNames),
         issues,
       ) ?? null;
   return {
-    parent_token: parent,
-    constructor_token: constructor,
+    parent_token: parent.token,
+    constructor_token: constructor.kind === "valid" ? constructor.token : null,
     type_name: typeName,
     value_length: value.length,
     value_sha256: managedDecodeBudget(layout).digest(value, "sha256"),
@@ -603,28 +591,22 @@ export const readResource = ({
   const implementationRaw = cursor.readIndex(
     layout.codedIndexSize("Implementation"),
   );
-  const implementationToken = metadataCodedToken(
+  const implementation = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
     implementationRaw,
     2,
     [38, 35, 39],
     layout.rowCounts,
   );
-  const implementationReason = metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason(
-    implementationRaw,
-    2,
-    [38, 35, 39],
-    layout.rowCounts,
-  );
-  if (implementationReason !== null)
+  if (implementation.kind === "invalid")
     issues.push({
       code: "invalid-row",
       scope: `metadata.ManifestResource:${metadataToken(40, row)}`,
       offset: implementationOffset,
-      detail: `ManifestResource implementation coded index 0x${implementationRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${implementationReason}`,
+      detail: `ManifestResource implementation coded index 0x${implementationRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${implementation.reason}`,
     });
   let dataLength: number | null = null;
   let dataSha256: string | null = null;
-  if (implementationRaw === 0) {
+  if (implementation.kind === "null") {
     if (directory === null || declaredOffset > directory.size - 4) {
       issues.push({
         code: "invalid-resource",
@@ -655,8 +637,9 @@ export const readResource = ({
     flags,
     visibility:
       (flags & 7) === 1 ? "public" : (flags & 7) === 2 ? "private" : "unknown",
-    implementation_token: implementationToken,
-    embedded: implementationRaw === 0,
+    implementation_token:
+      implementation.kind === "valid" ? implementation.token : null,
+    embedded: implementation.kind === "null",
     declared_offset: declaredOffset,
     data_length: dataLength,
     data_sha256: dataSha256,
diff --git a/src/dotnet/ManagedMethodSpecs.ts b/src/dotnet/ManagedMethodSpecs.ts
index fd97737dc3..37d9917d5b 100644
--- a/src/dotnet/ManagedMethodSpecs.ts
+++ b/src/dotnet/ManagedMethodSpecs.ts
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@ import {
 } from "./ManagedMemberInspectorCore.js";
 import type { ManagedMetadataLayout } from "./ManagedMetadataLayout.js";
 import {
-  metadataCodedToken,
-  metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason,
+  decodeMetadataCodedIndex,
   metadataRowCursor,
   readMetadataBlob,
 } from "./ManagedMetadataHeaps.js";
@@ -84,23 +83,23 @@ const readMethodSpec = (
   );
   const methodRaw = cursor.readIndex(layout.codedIndexSize("MethodDefOrRef"));
   const instantiation = cursor.readIndex(layout.blobIndexSize);
-  const methodReason = metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason(
+  const method = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
     methodRaw,
     1,
     [6, 10],
     layout.rowCounts,
   );
-  if (methodReason !== null || methodRaw === 0)
+  if (method.kind !== "valid")
     issues.push({
       code: "invalid-row",
       scope,
       offset: cursor.start,
       detail:
-        methodReason === null
+        method.kind === "null"
           ? "MethodSpec method coded index 0x0 is null, but the Method column must reference a row"
-          : `MethodSpec method coded index 0x${methodRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${methodReason}`,
+          : `MethodSpec method coded index 0x${methodRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${method.reason}`,
     });
-  const generic = metadataCodedToken(methodRaw, 1, [6, 10], layout.rowCounts);
+  const generic = method.kind === "valid" ? method.token : null;
   const target = generic === null ? undefined : members.get(generic);
   // A MethodSpec instantiates a method, so a field target never lends it a
   // name, even to a field operand.
diff --git a/src/dotnet/ManagedNativeBoundaryHelpers.ts b/src/dotnet/ManagedNativeBoundaryHelpers.ts
index 12bc15c492..495dc4089b 100644
--- a/src/dotnet/ManagedNativeBoundaryHelpers.ts
+++ b/src/dotnet/ManagedNativeBoundaryHelpers.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ import {
 import type { ManagedMetadataLayout } from "./ManagedMetadataLayout.js";
 import {
   metadataRowCursor,
-  metadataCodedToken,
-  metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason,
+  decodeMetadataCodedIndex,
   metadataToken,
   readMetadataString,
 } from "./ManagedMetadataHeaps.js";
@@ -169,28 +168,24 @@ export const parseImplMaps = ({
       const memberForwardedRaw = cursor.readIndex(
         layout.codedIndexSize("MemberForwarded"),
       );
-      const memberForwardedReason = metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason(
+      const memberForwarded = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
         memberForwardedRaw,
         1,
         [4, 6],
         layout.rowCounts,
       );
-      if (memberForwardedReason !== null || memberForwardedRaw === 0)
+      if (memberForwarded.kind !== "valid")
         issues.push({
           code: "invalid-row",
           scope: `metadata.ImplMap:${metadataToken(28, row)}`,
           offset: memberForwardedOffset,
           detail:
-            memberForwardedReason === null
+            memberForwarded.kind === "null"
               ? "ImplMap MemberForwarded coded index 0x0 is null, but the column must reference a Field or MethodDef row"
-              : `ImplMap MemberForwarded coded index 0x${memberForwardedRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${memberForwardedReason}`,
+              : `ImplMap MemberForwarded coded index 0x${memberForwardedRaw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${memberForwarded.reason}`,
         });
-      const memberToken = metadataCodedToken(
-        memberForwardedRaw,
-        1,
-        [4, 6],
-        layout.rowCounts,
-      );
+      const memberToken =
+        memberForwarded.kind === "valid" ? memberForwarded.token : null;
       const importName = readMetadataString(
         bytes,
         layout,
diff --git a/src/dotnet/ManagedTypeReferences.ts b/src/dotnet/ManagedTypeReferences.ts
index 6b436a410c..340a0bc681 100644
--- a/src/dotnet/ManagedTypeReferences.ts
+++ b/src/dotnet/ManagedTypeReferences.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { managedDecodeBudget } from "./ManagedDecodeBudget.js";
 import type { ManagedMetadataLayout } from "./ManagedMetadataLayout.js";
 import {
-  metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason,
+  decodeMetadataCodedIndex,
   metadataRowCursor,
   metadataToken,
   readMetadataString,
@@ -46,25 +46,25 @@ export const managedTypeReferences = (
       readManagedValue(() => {
         const cursor = metadataRowCursor(bytes, layout, 1, row);
         const raw = cursor.readIndex(layout.codedIndexSize("ResolutionScope"));
-        const reason = metadataCodedTokenInvalidReason(
+        const scope = decodeMetadataCodedIndex(
           raw,
           2,
           [0, 26, 35, 1],
           layout.rowCounts,
         );
-        if (reason !== null)
+        if (scope.kind === "invalid")
           issues.push({
             code: "invalid-row",
             scope: `metadata.TypeRef:${metadataToken(1, row)}`,
             offset: cursor.start,
-            detail: `TypeRef ResolutionScope coded index 0x${raw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${reason}`,
+            detail: `TypeRef ResolutionScope coded index 0x${raw.toString(16)} is invalid: ${scope.reason}`,
           });
         return {
           nameIndex: cursor.readIndex(layout.stringIndexSize),
           namespaceIndex: cursor.readIndex(layout.stringIndexSize),
           enclosingRow:
-            raw !== 0 && (raw & 3) === 3 ? Math.floor(raw / 4) : null,
-          scopeValid: reason === null,
+            scope.kind !== "null" && scope.table === 1 ? scope.row : null,
+          scopeValid: scope.kind !== "invalid",
         };
       }, issues) ?? null;
     rows.set(row, value);