diff --git a/fast64_internal/z64/exporter/scene/actors.py b/fast64_internal/z64/exporter/scene/actors.py
index ba4f2f6d8..7dd3cd0a7 100644
--- a/fast64_internal/z64/exporter/scene/actors.py
+++ b/fast64_internal/z64/exporter/scene/actors.py
@@ -41,6 +41,26 @@ def getEntryC(self):
         )
 
 
+def split_c_on_commas(s: str):
+    parts: list[str] = []
+    part = ""
+    parens_depth = 0
+    for c in s:
+        if c == "(":
+            parens_depth += 1
+        if c == ")":
+            parens_depth -= 1
+            if parens_depth < 0:
+                parens_depth = 0
+        if c == "," and parens_depth == 0:
+            parts.append(part)
+            part = ""
+        else:
+            part += c
+    parts.append(part)
+    return parts
+
+
 @dataclass
 class SceneTransitionActors:
     name: str
@@ -116,14 +136,14 @@ def from_data(raw_data: str, not_zapd_assets: bool):
             if entry == "":
                 continue
 
-            params = entry.replace("{", "").replace("}", "").split(",")
+            params = split_c_on_commas(entry.replace("{", "").replace("}", ""))
 
             # trailing commas
             for p in params:
                 if p == "":
                     params.remove(p)
 
-            assert len(params) == 10
+            assert len(params) == 10, entry
             trans_actor = TransitionActor()
             trans_actor.name = "(unset)"
             trans_actor.id = params[4]
diff --git a/fast64_internal/z64/importer/actor.py b/fast64_internal/z64/importer/actor.py
index 505510b72..af1f09751 100644
--- a/fast64_internal/z64/importer/actor.py
+++ b/fast64_internal/z64/importer/actor.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import re
+import traceback
 import bpy
 
 from ...utility import parentObject, hexOrDecInt
@@ -19,6 +20,21 @@
 )
 
 
+def set_actor_params(actorProp, actor_id, actor_params):
+    if actorProp.actor_id != "Custom":
+        try:
+            actorProp.set_param_value(actor_params, "Params")
+        except:
+            print("Failed to parse params " + actor_params + " for actor " + actor_id + ":")
+            traceback.print_exc()
+            print("Defaulting to custom")
+            actorProp.actor_id = "Custom"
+            actorProp.actor_id_custom = actor_id
+            actorProp.params_custom = actor_params
+    else:
+        actorProp.params_custom = actor_params
+
+
 def parseTransActorList(
     roomObjs: list[bpy.types.Object],
     sceneData: str,
@@ -66,10 +82,7 @@ def parseTransActorList(
 
             actorProp = transActorProp.actor
             setCustomProperty(actorProp, "actor_id", actor.id, game_data.z64.actors.ootEnumActorID)
-            if actorProp.actor_id != "Custom":
-                actorProp.params = actor.params
-            else:
-                actorProp.params_custom = actor.params
+            set_actor_params(actorProp, actor.id, actor.params)
             handleActorWithRotAsParam(actorProp, actor.id, rotation)
             unsetAllHeadersExceptSpecified(actorProp.headerSettings, headerIndex)
 
@@ -147,10 +160,7 @@ def parseSpawnList(
             spawnProp.customActor = actorID != "ACTOR_PLAYER"
             actorProp = spawnProp.actor
             setCustomProperty(actorProp, "actor_id", actorID, game_data.z64.actors.ootEnumActorID)
-            if actorProp.actor_id != "Custom":
-                actorProp.params = actorParam
-            else:
-                actorProp.params_custom = actorParam
+            set_actor_params(actorProp, actorID, actorParam)
             handleActorWithRotAsParam(actorProp, actorID, rotation)
             unsetAllHeadersExceptSpecified(actorProp.headerSettings, headerIndex)
 
@@ -188,10 +198,7 @@ def parseActorList(
             actorProp = actorObj.ootActorProperty
 
             setCustomProperty(actorProp, "actor_id", actorID, game_data.z64.actors.ootEnumActorID)
-            if actorProp.actor_id != "Custom":
-                actorProp.params = actorParam
-            else:
-                actorProp.params_custom = actorParam
+            set_actor_params(actorProp, actorID, actorParam)
             handleActorWithRotAsParam(actorProp, actorID, rotation)
             unsetAllHeadersExceptSpecified(actorProp.headerSettings, headerIndex)
 
diff --git a/fast64_internal/z64/utility.py b/fast64_internal/z64/utility.py
index da7bd8719..76159807b 100644
--- a/fast64_internal/z64/utility.py
+++ b/fast64_internal/z64/utility.py
@@ -845,7 +845,9 @@ def _eval(node) -> int:
     try:
         return _eval(node.body)
     except:
-        print("WARNING: something wrong happened:", traceback.print_exc())
+        print("WARNING: something wrong happened:")
+        print("input:", input)
+        traceback.print_exc()
         return None