@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use alloy::{
 use futures_util::{StreamExt, TryStreamExt, stream};
 use signet_node_types::{HostNotification, HostNotificationKind, HostNotifier, RevertRange};
 use signet_types::primitives::{RecoveredBlock, SealedBlock, SignetHeaderV1, TransactionSigned};
-use std::{collections::VecDeque, sync::Arc, time::Instant};
+use std::{cmp::Ordering, collections::VecDeque, sync::Arc, time::Instant};
 use tracing::{debug, info, warn};
 
 /// Default seconds per slot (Ethereum mainnet).
@@ -506,7 +506,29 @@ where
     /// Process a backfill batch if pending.
     ///
     /// Backfills by number up to `(latest - buffer_capacity / 2)` to leave
-    /// half the buffer depth for hash-based frontfill of recent blocks.
+    /// half the buffer depth for hash-based frontfill of recent blocks. If
+    /// `backfill_from` is already inside that headroom, the ceiling is
+    /// raised to `tip` so the next frontfill segment's parent is in the DB.
+    ///
+    /// # Return values
+    ///
+    /// - `None` — backfill is complete (no pending cursor, or the cursor
+    ///   has reached `tip + 1`). `backfill_from` is cleared and the caller
+    ///   should advance to frontfill via the `newHeads` subscription.
+    /// - `Some(Ok(notification))` — a batch was fetched successfully; the
+    ///   notification carries the chain segment for `[from, to]`.
+    ///   `backfill_from` is advanced to `to + 1`, or cleared if the batch
+    ///   reached the effective ceiling.
+    /// - `Some(Err(_))` — an error occurred. Notable cases:
+    ///   - `BackfillContinuityBreak` if the cursor has drifted past
+    ///     `tip + 1` (provider tip regressed, e.g. reorg or lagging
+    ///     replica behind a load balancer) — silently switching to
+    ///     frontfill from this state would emit a segment whose parent
+    ///     isn't in the DB.
+    ///   - `BackfillContinuityBreak` if the first fetched block's parent
+    ///     hash doesn't match the last emitted block.
+    ///   - Any provider/RPC error from `get_block_number` or
+    ///     `fetch_range`.
     #[tracing::instrument(
         level = "info",
         skip_all,
@@ -534,14 +556,34 @@ where
             }
         };
 
-        let backfill_ceiling = tip.saturating_sub(self.buffer_capacity as u64 / 2);
-        if from > backfill_ceiling {
-            self.backfill_from = None;
-            info!("backfill complete, switching to frontfill");
-            return None;
+        // `from == tip + 1` is the normal completion state (last batch
+        // ended at `to == tip`). `from > tip + 1` means the provider's
+        // tip regressed below our cursor (reorg, lagging replica) —
+        // silently switching to frontfill from there would emit a
+        // segment whose parent isn't in the DB.
+        match from.cmp(&tip.saturating_add(1)) {
+            Ordering::Equal => {
+                self.backfill_from = None;
+                info!("backfill complete, switching to frontfill");
+                return None;
+            }
+            Ordering::Greater => {
+                warn!(from, tip, "backfill cursor ahead of tip; provider tip regressed");
+                return Some(Err(RpcHostError::BackfillContinuityBreak));
+            }
+            Ordering::Less => {}
         }
 
-        let to = backfill_ceiling.min(from + self.backfill_batch_size - 1);
+        // Normally cap each batch to `(tip - buffer_capacity / 2)` so the
+        // hash-walk frontfill has headroom on new tips. But if `from` is
+        // already inside that headroom (e.g., after restart with persisted
+        // head close to tip), we must still ingest up to `tip` — otherwise
+        // the processor receives a one-block frontfill segment whose parent
+        // is not yet in the DB.
+        let backfill_ceiling = tip.saturating_sub(self.buffer_capacity as u64 / 2);
+        let effective_ceiling = if from > backfill_ceiling { tip } else { backfill_ceiling };
+
+        let to = effective_ceiling.min(from + self.backfill_batch_size - 1);
         span.record("to", to);
 
         let blocks = match self.fetch_range(from, to).await {
@@ -577,7 +619,7 @@ where
             self.last_emitted = Some((n, h));
         }
 
-        let backfill_done = to >= backfill_ceiling;
+        let backfill_done = to >= effective_ceiling;
         if backfill_done {
             self.backfill_from = None;
         } else {