diff --git a/pytorch3d/implicitron/dataset/frame_data.py b/pytorch3d/implicitron/dataset/frame_data.py
index 3d4d6167..137b6324 100644
--- a/pytorch3d/implicitron/dataset/frame_data.py
+++ b/pytorch3d/implicitron/dataset/frame_data.py
@@ -589,7 +589,8 @@ def build(
             ),
         )
 
-        fg_mask_np: Optional[np.ndarray] = None
+        fg_mask_np: np.ndarray | None = None
+        bbox_xywh: tuple[float, float, float, float] | None = None
         mask_annotation = frame_annotation.mask
         if mask_annotation is not None:
             if load_blobs and self.load_masks:
@@ -598,10 +599,6 @@ def build(
                 frame_data.fg_probability = safe_as_tensor(fg_mask_np, torch.float)
 
             bbox_xywh = mask_annotation.bounding_box_xywh
-            if bbox_xywh is None and fg_mask_np is not None:
-                bbox_xywh = get_bbox_from_mask(fg_mask_np, self.box_crop_mask_thr)
-
-            frame_data.bbox_xywh = safe_as_tensor(bbox_xywh, torch.float)
 
         if frame_annotation.image is not None:
             image_size_hw = safe_as_tensor(frame_annotation.image.size, torch.long)
@@ -618,11 +615,27 @@ def build(
                 if image_path is None:
                     raise ValueError("Image path is required to load images.")
 
-                image_np = load_image(self._local_path(image_path))
+                no_mask = fg_mask_np is None  # didn’t read the mask file
+                image_np = load_image(
+                    self._local_path(image_path), try_read_alpha=no_mask
+                )
+                if image_np.shape[0] == 4:  # RGBA image
+                    if no_mask:
+                        fg_mask_np = image_np[3:]
+                        frame_data.fg_probability = safe_as_tensor(
+                            fg_mask_np, torch.float
+                        )
+
+                    image_np = image_np[:3]
+
                 frame_data.image_rgb = self._postprocess_image(
                     image_np, frame_annotation.image.size, frame_data.fg_probability
                 )
 
+        if bbox_xywh is None and fg_mask_np is not None:
+            bbox_xywh = get_bbox_from_mask(fg_mask_np, self.box_crop_mask_thr)
+        frame_data.bbox_xywh = safe_as_tensor(bbox_xywh, torch.float)
+
         depth_annotation = frame_annotation.depth
         if (
             load_blobs
diff --git a/pytorch3d/implicitron/dataset/utils.py b/pytorch3d/implicitron/dataset/utils.py
index b4443584..3e8ba35b 100644
--- a/pytorch3d/implicitron/dataset/utils.py
+++ b/pytorch3d/implicitron/dataset/utils.py
@@ -87,6 +87,15 @@ def is_train_frame(
 def get_bbox_from_mask(
     mask: np.ndarray, thr: float, decrease_quant: float = 0.05
 ) -> Tuple[int, int, int, int]:
+    # these corner cases need to be handled in order to avoid an infinite loop
+    if mask.size == 0:
+        warnings.warn("Empty mask is provided for bbox extraction.", stacklevel=1)
+        return 0, 0, 1, 1
+
+    if not mask.min() >= 0.0:
+        warnings.warn("Negative values in the mask for bbox extraction.", stacklevel=1)
+        mask = mask.clip(min=0.0)
+
     # bbox in xywh
     masks_for_box = np.zeros_like(mask)
     while masks_for_box.sum() <= 1.0:
@@ -229,9 +238,20 @@ def transpose_normalize_image(image: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
     return im.astype(np.float32) / 255.0
 
 
-def load_image(path: str) -> np.ndarray:
+def load_image(path: str, try_read_alpha: bool = False) -> np.ndarray:
+    """
+    Load an image from a path and return it as a numpy array.
+    If try_read_alpha is True, the image is read as RGBA and the alpha channel is
+    returned as the fourth channel.
+    Otherwise, the image is read as RGB and a three-channel image is returned.
+    """
+
     with Image.open(path) as pil_im:
-        im = np.array(pil_im.convert("RGB"))
+        # Check if the image has an alpha channel
+        if try_read_alpha and pil_im.mode == "RGBA":
+            im = np.array(pil_im)
+        else:
+            im = np.array(pil_im.convert("RGB"))
 
     return transpose_normalize_image(im)