diff --git a/node/derivation/batch_info.go b/node/derivation/batch_info.go
index fa8f6bd15..344e1cb9b 100644
--- a/node/derivation/batch_info.go
+++ b/node/derivation/batch_info.go
@@ -177,15 +177,26 @@ func (bi *BatchInfo) ParseBatch(batch geth.RPCRollupBatch) error {
 		txsData = batchBytes
 	} else {
 		// Block contexts are at the head of the decompressed stream,
-		// immediately followed by the tx payload bytes.
-		bcLen := blockCount * 60
-		if uint64(len(batchBytes)) < bcLen {
-			return fmt.Errorf("decompressed batch too short for block contexts: have %d, need %d", len(batchBytes), bcLen)
+		// immediately followed by the tx payload bytes. Bound blockCount by
+		// the payload length using division so blockCount*60 cannot overflow
+		// uint64 and bypass the length guard (a wrapped-small bcLen would
+		// otherwise drive a huge make([]*BlockContext) below).
+		if blockCount > uint64(len(batchBytes))/60 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("decompressed batch too short for block contexts: have %d, need %d blocks", len(batchBytes), blockCount)
 		}
+		bcLen := blockCount * 60
 		rawBlockContexts = batchBytes[:bcLen]
 		txsData = batchBytes[bcLen:]
 	}
 
+	// A batch must contain at least one block; zero-block batches are not
+	// supported. blockCount == 0 (e.g. a batch whose lastBlockNumber equals the
+	// parent's, or a zero block-count prefix) would yield empty blockContexts
+	// and a nil header downstream during derivation. Reject it here.
+	if blockCount == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid batch: zero block count")
+	}
+
 	data, err := commonbatch.DecodeTxsFromBytes(txsData)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/node/derivation/batch_info_test.go b/node/derivation/batch_info_test.go
index 416aafbdc..e3f1852ce 100644
--- a/node/derivation/batch_info_test.go
+++ b/node/derivation/batch_info_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package derivation
 
 import (
 	"crypto/rand"
+	"math"
 	"math/big"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -224,3 +225,50 @@ func TestParseBatchMultiBlobConcatDecompressInvariant(t *testing.T) {
 			"reversed-blob decompression unexpectedly matched payload")
 	}
 }
+
+// TestParseBatchBlockCountBounds covers the blockCount guards hardened in
+// issue #994, both of which would otherwise panic and crash layer1-verify
+// nodes. A zero count (lastBlockNumber == parent) yielded empty blockContexts
+// and a nil-header deref during derivation; zero-block batches are unsupported
+// and must be rejected. A huge count let blockCount*60 overflow uint64, bypass
+// the length guard, and drive an out-of-range make([]*BlockContext); it must
+// likewise be rejected. ParseBatch must return an error, not panic.
+func TestParseBatchBlockCountBounds(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		parentIndex = 7
+		startBlock  = 1_000
+	)
+	// Minimal valid payload (one block context + empty tx-stream terminator)
+	// so ParseBatch decompresses cleanly and reaches blockCount validation.
+	payload := append(buildBlockContexts(startBlock, 1), 0x00)
+	compressed, err := zstd.CompressBatchBytes(payload)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	blobs := splitCompressedIntoBlobs(t, compressed)
+
+	parentHeader := buildV1ParentHeader(parentIndex, startBlock) // parent.LastBlockNumber == startBlock-1
+
+	t.Run("zero block count is rejected", func(t *testing.T) {
+		batch := geth.RPCRollupBatch{
+			Version:           1,
+			ParentBatchHeader: parentHeader,
+			LastBlockNumber:   startBlock - 1, // == parent => blockCount 0
+			Sidecar:           eth.BlobTxSidecar{Blobs: blobs},
+		}
+		var bi BatchInfo
+		require.ErrorContains(t, bi.ParseBatch(batch), "zero block count")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("overflowing block count is rejected", func(t *testing.T) {
+		batch := geth.RPCRollupBatch{
+			Version:           1,
+			ParentBatchHeader: parentHeader,
+			// blockCount = LastBlockNumber - (startBlock-1) chosen so that
+			// blockCount*60 wraps uint64; the division-based guard rejects it
+			// before the multiply.
+			LastBlockNumber: (startBlock - 1) + (math.MaxUint64/60 + 2),
+			Sidecar:         eth.BlobTxSidecar{Blobs: blobs},
+		}
+		var bi BatchInfo
+		require.Error(t, bi.ParseBatch(batch))
+	})
+}