diff --git a/core/src/execution/datafusion/planner.rs b/core/src/execution/datafusion/planner.rs
index a5bcf5654b..dd476205b9 100644
--- a/core/src/execution/datafusion/planner.rs
+++ b/core/src/execution/datafusion/planner.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ use datafusion::{
     },
     physical_plan::{
         aggregates::{AggregateMode as DFAggregateMode, PhysicalGroupBy},
+        coalesce_batches::CoalesceBatchesExec,
         filter::FilterExec,
         joins::{utils::JoinFilter, HashJoinExec, PartitionMode, SortMergeJoinExec},
         limit::LocalLimitExec,
@@ -724,7 +725,31 @@ impl PhysicalPlanner {
                             .map(|r| (r, format!("col_{}", idx)))
                     })
                     .collect();
-                Ok((scans, Arc::new(ProjectionExec::try_new(exprs?, child)?)))
+
+                let projection = Arc::new(ProjectionExec::try_new(exprs?, child)?);
+                // the scan reuses batches so we need to copy them before coalescing ... if
+                // this approach looks like it has benefit then we may want to build a custom
+                // version of CoalesceBatchesExec that copies when needed
+                let copied = Arc::new(CopyExec::new(projection));
+
+                // keep this small to avoid error:
+                let target_batch_size = 1024;
+
+                /*
+                org.apache.comet.CometNativeException: range end index 8504 out of range for slice of length 8192
+                    at comet::errors::init::{{closure}}(__internal__:0)
+                    at std::panicking::rust_panic_with_hook(__internal__:0)
+                    at std::panicking::begin_panic_handler::{{closure}}(__internal__:0)
+                    at std::sys_common::backtrace::__rust_end_short_backtrace(__internal__:0)
+                    at rust_begin_unwind(__internal__:0)
+                    at core::panicking::panic_fmt(__internal__:0)
+                    at core::slice::index::slice_end_index_len_fail(__internal__:0)
+                    at comet::execution::datafusion::shuffle_writer::external_shuffle::{{closure}}(__internal__:0)
+                 */
+
+                let coalesced: Arc<dyn ExecutionPlan> =
+                    Arc::new(CoalesceBatchesExec::new(copied, target_batch_size));
+                Ok((scans, coalesced))
             }
             OpStruct::Filter(filter) => {
                 assert!(children.len() == 1);