diff --git a/xrspatial/geotiff/_vrt.py b/xrspatial/geotiff/_vrt.py
index 2e0cb7e1..e50c9c2b 100644
--- a/xrspatial/geotiff/_vrt.py
+++ b/xrspatial/geotiff/_vrt.py
@@ -647,6 +647,27 @@ def read_vrt(vrt_path: str, *, window=None,
                     f"DstRect sizes must be non-negative."
                 )
 
+            # Reject malformed SrcRect values up front, before the overlap
+            # math and before the lenient source-read try/except below. A
+            # negative ``xSize`` / ``ySize`` would otherwise reach
+            # ``read_to_array`` as a bad window and be silently swallowed by
+            # the missing-source fallback (which is meant for unreadable
+            # files, not malformed XML rectangles); a negative ``xOff`` /
+            # ``yOff`` likewise produces an out-of-range window that the
+            # fallback would turn into a zero-filled hole. See issue #1784.
+            if sr.x_size < 0 or sr.y_size < 0:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"VRT SimpleSource SrcRect has negative size "
+                    f"(xSize={sr.x_size}, ySize={sr.y_size}); "
+                    f"SrcRect sizes must be non-negative."
+                )
+            if sr.x_off < 0 or sr.y_off < 0:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"VRT SimpleSource SrcRect has negative offset "
+                    f"(xOff={sr.x_off}, yOff={sr.y_off}); "
+                    f"SrcRect offsets must be non-negative."
+                )
+
             # Destination rect in virtual raster coordinates
             dst_r0 = dr.y_off
             dst_c0 = dr.x_off
diff --git a/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_geotiff_vrt_srcrect_validation_1784.py b/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_geotiff_vrt_srcrect_validation_1784.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5edb8ca4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_geotiff_vrt_srcrect_validation_1784.py
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+"""VRT ``SrcRect`` must reject negative sizes and offsets up front.
+
+The ``DstRect`` validation added for issue #1737 only covers one half of the
+SimpleSource rectangle pair.  A malformed ``<SrcRect xSize="-100"/>`` (or
+negative offset) reaches ``read_to_array`` as a bad window, raises
+``ValueError`` for the out-of-range window, and is then swallowed by the
+lenient source-read ``try/except`` that is meant to handle *missing or
+unreadable source files* -- not malformed XML rectangles.
+
+Net effect before this fix: malformed XML becomes a single warning plus a
+zero-filled hole in the mosaic.  In strict mode the same condition surfaces
+the swallowed error inside the try.  Either way, the caller cannot tell the
+malformed-VRT case from a legitimate missing tile.
+
+Regression test for issue #1784: ``read_vrt`` should refuse the read with a
+``ValueError`` that names the offending SrcRect field, in both lenient and
+strict modes.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import tempfile
+import warnings
+
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+
+from xrspatial.geotiff import to_geotiff
+from xrspatial.geotiff._vrt import read_vrt
+
+
+def _write_source(td: str, name: str = 'src.tif') -> str:
+    """Write a 10x10 uint8 source GeoTIFF and return its path."""
+    src_path = os.path.join(td, name)
+    to_geotiff(np.zeros((10, 10), dtype=np.uint8), src_path,
+               compression='none')
+    return src_path
+
+
+def _write_vrt(td: str, *,
+               src_x_off: int = 0, src_y_off: int = 0,
+               src_x_size: int = 10, src_y_size: int = 10,
+               src_filename: str = 'src.tif',
+               raster_x: int = 100, raster_y: int = 100) -> str:
+    """Write a VRT with a single SimpleSource using the given SrcRect."""
+    vrt_path = os.path.join(td, 'mosaic.vrt')
+    vrt_xml = (
+        f'<VRTDataset rasterXSize="{raster_x}" rasterYSize="{raster_y}">\n'
+        f'  <VRTRasterBand dataType="Byte" band="1">\n'
+        f'    <SimpleSource>\n'
+        f'      <SourceFilename relativeToVRT="1">{src_filename}'
+        f'</SourceFilename>\n'
+        f'      <SourceBand>1</SourceBand>\n'
+        f'      <SrcRect xOff="{src_x_off}" yOff="{src_y_off}" '
+        f'xSize="{src_x_size}" ySize="{src_y_size}"/>\n'
+        f'      <DstRect xOff="0" yOff="0" xSize="10" ySize="10"/>\n'
+        f'    </SimpleSource>\n'
+        f'  </VRTRasterBand>\n'
+        f'</VRTDataset>\n'
+    )
+    with open(vrt_path, 'w') as f:
+        f.write(vrt_xml)
+    return vrt_path
+
+
+def test_negative_srcrect_x_size_rejected():
+    """Negative ``SrcRect xSize`` surfaces as ``ValueError`` rather than
+    being swallowed by the missing-source fallback."""
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(ignore_cleanup_errors=True) as td:
+        _write_source(td)
+        vrt_path = _write_vrt(td, src_x_size=-50)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=r"SrcRect.*negative size"):
+            read_vrt(vrt_path)
+
+
+def test_negative_srcrect_y_size_rejected():
+    """Negative ``SrcRect ySize`` surfaces as ``ValueError``."""
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(ignore_cleanup_errors=True) as td:
+        _write_source(td)
+        vrt_path = _write_vrt(td, src_y_size=-50)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=r"SrcRect.*negative size"):
+            read_vrt(vrt_path)
+
+
+def test_negative_srcrect_x_off_rejected():
+    """Negative ``SrcRect xOff`` surfaces as ``ValueError``."""
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(ignore_cleanup_errors=True) as td:
+        _write_source(td)
+        vrt_path = _write_vrt(td, src_x_off=-10)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=r"SrcRect.*negative offset"):
+            read_vrt(vrt_path)
+
+
+def test_negative_srcrect_y_off_rejected():
+    """Negative ``SrcRect yOff`` surfaces as ``ValueError``."""
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(ignore_cleanup_errors=True) as td:
+        _write_source(td)
+        vrt_path = _write_vrt(td, src_y_off=-10)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=r"SrcRect.*negative offset"):
+            read_vrt(vrt_path)
+
+
+def test_negative_srcrect_message_names_bad_values():
+    """The error message must name the malformed field and its value so the
+    caller can find the offending ``<SrcRect>`` in the VRT."""
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(ignore_cleanup_errors=True) as td:
+        _write_source(td)
+        vrt_path = _write_vrt(td, src_x_size=-7, src_y_size=-3)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError) as excinfo:
+            read_vrt(vrt_path)
+        msg = str(excinfo.value)
+        assert "SrcRect" in msg
+        assert "-7" in msg
+        assert "-3" in msg
+
+
+def test_missing_source_still_takes_lenient_warning_path():
+    """A *valid* SrcRect with a missing source file must still hit the
+    lenient warning path -- the new SrcRect check must not swallow the
+    missing-file case that PR #1675 narrowed."""
+    from xrspatial.geotiff import GeoTIFFFallbackWarning
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(ignore_cleanup_errors=True) as td:
+        # No source file written; SrcRect itself is well-formed.
+        vrt_path = _write_vrt(td, src_filename='does_not_exist.tif')
+        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as caught:
+            warnings.simplefilter('always')
+            arr, _ = read_vrt(vrt_path)
+        # The lenient path must produce a fallback warning and a result
+        # array (zero-filled at the hole), not raise.
+        fallback = [w for w in caught
+                    if issubclass(w.category, GeoTIFFFallbackWarning)]
+        assert fallback, (
+            "expected a GeoTIFFFallbackWarning for the missing source"
+        )
+        assert arr.shape == (100, 100)
+
+
+def test_valid_srcrect_reads_normally():
+    """A well-formed SrcRect with a real source must succeed -- no false
+    positives on valid VRTs."""
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(ignore_cleanup_errors=True) as td:
+        _write_source(td)
+        vrt_path = _write_vrt(td, raster_x=10, raster_y=10)
+        arr, _ = read_vrt(vrt_path)
+        assert arr.shape == (10, 10)
+        # Source is all zeros and DstRect covers the full VRT raster, so
+        # the entire output must be zero.
+        assert np.all(arr == 0)
+
+
+def test_negative_srcrect_raises_under_strict_mode(monkeypatch):
+    """The check runs *before* the lenient try/except, so strict mode and
+    lenient mode must both raise.  Pinning strict mode here prevents a
+    regression where the check accidentally moves back inside the try."""
+    monkeypatch.setenv('XRSPATIAL_GEOTIFF_STRICT', '1')
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(ignore_cleanup_errors=True) as td:
+        _write_source(td)
+        vrt_path = _write_vrt(td, src_x_size=-50)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=r"SrcRect.*negative size"):
+            read_vrt(vrt_path)