diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/core/io_primitives.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/core/io_primitives.rs
index 9c76defd6..ff4a27816 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/core/io_primitives.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/core/io_primitives.rs
@@ -1275,6 +1275,10 @@ pub(in crate::set_disk) fn fill_deferred_bitrot_readers(
             continue;
         }
 
+        if files[idx].data.is_none() && disks[idx].is_none() {
+            continue;
+        }
+
         let inline_data = files[idx].data.clone();
         let disk = disks[idx].clone();
         let data_dir = files[idx].data_dir.unwrap_or_default();
diff --git a/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/read.rs b/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/read.rs
index c8b3ec1d7..4a3015ecd 100644
--- a/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/read.rs
+++ b/crates/ecstore/src/set_disk/read.rs
@@ -4095,6 +4095,27 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(&out[..n], [b"aaaa", b"bbbb", b"cccc", b"dddd"][fallback_index]);
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn bitrot_reader_setup_skips_deferred_slots_without_a_source() {
+        let setup = setup_inline_bitrot_readers_with_env(
+            vec![Some(b"aaaa"), Some(b"bbbb"), None, Some(b"dddd")],
+            2,
+            2,
+            BitrotReaderSetupMode::ReadQuorum,
+            true,
+        )
+        .await;
+
+        assert!(setup.has_setup_quorum(2, 2, BitrotReaderSetupMode::ReadQuorum));
+        assert_eq!(setup.available_shards(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(setup.deferred_shards(), 1);
+        assert!(setup.readers[2].is_none(), "a slot without inline data or a disk has no usable source");
+        assert!(matches!(setup.errors[2], Some(DiskError::DiskNotFound)));
+        assert!(setup.deferred_stripe_handles[2].is_none());
+        assert!(setup.readers[3].is_some(), "an inline shard remains available as a deferred fallback");
+        assert!(setup.deferred_stripe_handles[3].is_some());
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn bitrot_reader_setup_preference_uses_data_blocks_first_without_env() {
         let setup = setup_inline_bitrot_readers_with_preference(