diff --git a/model/id/id.go b/model/id/id.go
index 61dc8d443..1588f38c3 100644
--- a/model/id/id.go
+++ b/model/id/id.go
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/navidrome/navidrome/log"
 )
 
 func NewRandom() string {
@@ -17,7 +19,7 @@ func NewRandom() string {
 // Encode128 renders a 16-byte value as the canonical 22-char zero-padded base62 id.
 func Encode128(b []byte) string {
 	if len(b) != 16 {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("id.Encode128: expected 16 bytes, got %d", len(b)))
+		log.Fatal("Encode128: expected 16 bytes", "got", len(b))
 	}
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%022s", new(big.Int).SetBytes(b).Text(62))
 }
diff --git a/model/id/id_test.go b/model/id/id_test.go
index d3858af6b..fc311016c 100644
--- a/model/id/id_test.go
+++ b/model/id/id_test.go
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ var _ = Describe("Encode128/Decode128", func() {
 		Expect(id.Decode128(s)).To(Equal(b))
 	})
 
-	It("panics on non-16-byte input", func() {
-		Expect(func() { id.Encode128(make([]byte, 15)) }).To(Panic())
-	})
-
 	It("rejects invalid input", func() {
 		_, err := id.Decode128("short")
 		Expect(err).To(HaveOccurred())