diff --git a/crates/engine/src/preset_luminar.rs b/crates/engine/src/preset_luminar.rs
index e88304568..73b008d9f 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/preset_luminar.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/preset_luminar.rs
@@ -89,8 +89,9 @@ fn unescape(t: &str) -> String {
             _ => ent
                 .strip_prefix("#x")
                 .or_else(|| ent.strip_prefix("#X"))
+                .filter(|h| h.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_hexdigit()))
                 .and_then(|h| u32::from_str_radix(h, 16).ok())
-                .or_else(|| ent.strip_prefix('#').and_then(|d| d.parse().ok()))
+                .or_else(|| ent.strip_prefix('#').filter(|d| d.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_digit())).and_then(|d| d.parse().ok()))
                 .and_then(char::from_u32),
         };
         match c {
@@ -485,6 +486,12 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::preset_import::read_presets;
     use serde_json::json;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn unescape_rejects_signed_numeric_references() {
+        assert_eq!(unescape("&#+65;&#x+41;"), "&#+65;&#x+41;");
+        assert_eq!(unescape("AA"), "AA");
+    }
+
     /// One effect's parameter as Luminar writes it.
     fn param(name: &str, v: f64) -> String {
         format!("<key>{name}</key><dict><key>OptionalDataType</key><integer>0</integer><key>Value</key><real>{v}</real></dict>")
diff --git a/crates/lensdb/src/xml.rs b/crates/lensdb/src/xml.rs
index dc611a647..5d4a39dc8 100644
--- a/crates/lensdb/src/xml.rs
+++ b/crates/lensdb/src/xml.rs
@@ -43,8 +43,10 @@ fn entity(name: &str) -> Option<char> {
         _ => {
             let n = name.strip_prefix('#')?;
             let v = match n.strip_prefix('x') {
-                Some(h) => u32::from_str_radix(h, 16).ok()?,
-                None => n.parse().ok()?,
+                Some(h) if h.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_hexdigit()) => u32::from_str_radix(h, 16).ok()?,
+                Some(_) => return None,
+                None if n.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_digit()) => n.parse().ok()?,
+                None => return None,
             };
             char::from_u32(v)?
         }
@@ -134,3 +136,16 @@ fn close(stack: &mut Vec<Node>) {
         p.children.push(n);
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn entity_rejects_signed_numeric_references() {
+        assert_eq!(entity("#+65"), None);
+        assert_eq!(entity("#x+41"), None);
+        assert_eq!(entity("#65"), Some('A'));
+        assert_eq!(entity("#x41"), Some('A'));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/meta/src/xmp.rs b/crates/meta/src/xmp.rs
index 2dbf59482..6f8a7d402 100644
--- a/crates/meta/src/xmp.rs
+++ b/crates/meta/src/xmp.rs
@@ -203,8 +203,10 @@ fn entity(name: &str) -> Option<char> {
         _ => {
             let n = name.strip_prefix('#')?;
             let v = match n.strip_prefix(['x', 'X']) {
-                Some(h) => u32::from_str_radix(h, 16).ok()?,
-                None => n.parse().ok()?,
+                Some(h) if h.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_hexdigit()) => u32::from_str_radix(h, 16).ok()?,
+                Some(_) => return None,
+                None if n.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_digit()) => n.parse().ok()?,
+                None => return None,
             };
             char::from_u32(v).filter(|&c| is_xml_char(c))?
         }
@@ -1171,4 +1173,12 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(entity("#x41"), Some('A'));
         assert_eq!(entity("#9"), Some('\t'));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn entity_rejects_signed_numeric_references() {
+        assert_eq!(entity("#+65"), None);
+        assert_eq!(entity("#x+41"), None);
+        assert_eq!(entity("#65"), Some('A'));
+        assert_eq!(entity("#x41"), Some('A'));
+    }
 }