diff --git a/pypdf/_doc_common.py b/pypdf/_doc_common.py
index b767f1eea..eb2f4e2af 100644
--- a/pypdf/_doc_common.py
+++ b/pypdf/_doc_common.py
@@ -609,6 +609,19 @@ def _get_qualified_field_name(
             )
         return cast(str, parent.get("/T", ""))
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _normal_appearance(appearance: Any) -> DictionaryObject:
+        """Return the /N normal-appearance sub-dictionary of an /AP entry."""
+        appearance = appearance.get_object()
+        if not isinstance(appearance, DictionaryObject):
+            raise PdfReadError(f"Expected appearance dictionary, got {appearance!r}")
+        normal = appearance.get("/N")
+        if normal is not None:
+            normal = normal.get_object()
+        if not isinstance(normal, DictionaryObject):
+            raise PdfReadError(f"Expected /N appearance dictionary, got {normal!r}")
+        return normal
+
     def _build_field(
         self,
         field: Union[TreeObject, DictionaryObject],
@@ -629,9 +642,8 @@ def _build_field(
             retval[key][NameObject("/_States_")] = obj[NameObject(FA.Opt)]
         if obj.get(FA.FT, "") == "/Btn" and "/AP" in obj:
             #  Checkbox
-            retval[key][NameObject("/_States_")] = ArrayObject(
-                list(obj["/AP"]["/N"].keys())
-            )
+            normal = self._normal_appearance(obj["/AP"])
+            retval[key][NameObject("/_States_")] = ArrayObject(list(normal.keys()))
             if "/Off" not in retval[key]["/_States_"]:
                 retval[key][NameObject("/_States_")].append(NameObject("/Off"))
         elif obj.get(FA.FT, "") == "/Btn" and obj.get(FA.Ff, 0) & FA.FfBits.Radio != 0:
@@ -639,7 +651,10 @@ def _build_field(
             retval[key][NameObject("/_States_")] = ArrayObject(states)
             for k in obj.get(FA.Kids, {}):
                 k = k.get_object()
-                for s in list(k["/AP"]["/N"].keys()):
+                if "/AP" not in k:
+                    raise PdfReadError(f"Button field kid missing /AP: {k!r}")
+                normal = self._normal_appearance(k["/AP"])
+                for s in list(normal.keys()):
                     if s not in states:
                         states.append(s)
                 retval[key][NameObject("/_States_")] = ArrayObject(states)
diff --git a/tests/test_doc_common.py b/tests/test_doc_common.py
index 894b7a53a..fac5a37c5 100644
--- a/tests/test_doc_common.py
+++ b/tests/test_doc_common.py
@@ -208,6 +208,55 @@ def test_build_destination__short_array():
     assert dest["/Type"] == "/FitR"
 
 
+def _reader_with_button_field(field: DictionaryObject) -> PdfReader:
+    writer = PdfWriter()
+    writer.add_blank_page(width=72, height=72)
+    reference = writer._add_object(field)
+    acroform = DictionaryObject()
+    acroform[NameObject("/Fields")] = ArrayObject([reference])
+    writer.root_object[NameObject("/AcroForm")] = writer._add_object(acroform)
+    stream = BytesIO()
+    writer.write(stream)
+    stream.seek(0)
+    return PdfReader(stream)
+
+
+def test_build_field__checkbox_missing_normal_appearance():
+    # A checkbox whose /AP is not a dictionary raises a clean PdfReadError
+    # instead of an uncaught KeyError.
+    field = DictionaryObject()
+    field[NameObject("/T")] = TextStringObject("CheckBox")
+    field[NameObject("/FT")] = NameObject("/Btn")
+    field[NameObject("/AP")] = ArrayObject()
+    with pytest.raises(PdfReadError, match="Expected appearance dictionary"):
+        _reader_with_button_field(field).get_fields()
+
+    # A checkbox whose /AP has no /N sub-dictionary raises likewise.
+    field[NameObject("/AP")] = DictionaryObject()
+    with pytest.raises(PdfReadError, match="Expected /N appearance dictionary"):
+        _reader_with_button_field(field).get_fields()
+
+    # A well-formed /AP /N still collects the appearance states.
+    normal = DictionaryObject()
+    normal[NameObject("/Yes")] = NumberObject(1)
+    appearance = DictionaryObject()
+    appearance[NameObject("/N")] = normal
+    field[NameObject("/AP")] = appearance
+    fields = _reader_with_button_field(field).get_fields()
+    assert list(fields["CheckBox"]["/_States_"]) == ["/Yes", "/Off"]
+
+
+def test_build_field__radio_kid_missing_appearance():
+    # A radio kid lacking /AP raises a clean PdfReadError instead of a KeyError.
+    field = DictionaryObject()
+    field[NameObject("/T")] = TextStringObject("Radio")
+    field[NameObject("/FT")] = NameObject("/Btn")
+    field[NameObject("/Ff")] = NumberObject(1 << 15)
+    field[NameObject("/Kids")] = ArrayObject([DictionaryObject()])
+    with pytest.raises(PdfReadError, match="missing /AP"):
+        _reader_with_button_field(field).get_fields()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.enable_socket
 def test_named_destinations__tree_is_null_object():
     url = "https://github.com/user-attachments/files/20885216/test.pdf"