diff --git a/xrspatial/geotiff/_header.py b/xrspatial/geotiff/_header.py
index 8ef15a30..4dabd51d 100644
--- a/xrspatial/geotiff/_header.py
+++ b/xrspatial/geotiff/_header.py
@@ -84,6 +84,26 @@
 TAG_GEO_ASCII_PARAMS = 34737
 
 
+# Human-readable names for tags that turn up in error messages. Only
+# tags that legitimately use RATIONAL / SRATIONAL are interesting here;
+# anything else gets formatted as the bare numeric id.
+_TAG_NAMES = {
+    TAG_X_RESOLUTION: "XResolution",
+    TAG_Y_RESOLUTION: "YResolution",
+    TAG_RESOLUTION_UNIT: "ResolutionUnit",
+}
+
+
+def _tag_label(tag: int | None) -> str:
+    """Format a tag id for error messages."""
+    if tag is None:
+        return "<unknown>"
+    name = _TAG_NAMES.get(tag)
+    if name is not None:
+        return f"{name} (tag={tag})"
+    return f"tag={tag}"
+
+
 @dataclass
 class TIFFHeader:
     """Parsed TIFF file header."""
@@ -427,8 +447,15 @@ def parse_header(data: bytes | memoryview) -> TIFFHeader:
 
 
 def _read_value(data: bytes | memoryview, offset: int, type_id: int,
-                count: int, bo: str) -> Any:
-    """Read a typed value array from data at the given offset."""
+                count: int, bo: str, tag: int | None = None) -> Any:
+    """Read a typed value array from data at the given offset.
+
+    A zero-denominator RATIONAL or SRATIONAL is rejected with a
+    `ValueError` rather than silently coerced to 0.0. The TIFF spec
+    treats denominator-zero rationals as malformed, and quietly mapping
+    them to 0.0 lets corrupted `XResolution` / `YResolution` metadata
+    round-trip through the reader as if the file were valid.
+    """
     type_size = TIFF_TYPE_SIZES.get(type_id, 1)
 
     if type_id == ASCII:
@@ -445,7 +472,13 @@ def _read_value(data: bytes | memoryview, offset: int, type_id: int,
             off = offset + i * 8
             num = struct.unpack_from(f'{bo}I', data, off)[0]
             den = struct.unpack_from(f'{bo}I', data, off + 4)[0]
-            values.append(num / den if den != 0 else 0.0)
+            if den == 0:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"Malformed RATIONAL on {_tag_label(tag)}: "
+                    f"numerator={num} denominator={den} at element {i}; "
+                    f"refusing to parse possibly malformed TIFF"
+                )
+            values.append(num / den)
         return tuple(values) if count > 1 else values[0]
 
     if type_id == SRATIONAL:
@@ -454,7 +487,13 @@ def _read_value(data: bytes | memoryview, offset: int, type_id: int,
             off = offset + i * 8
             num = struct.unpack_from(f'{bo}i', data, off)[0]
             den = struct.unpack_from(f'{bo}i', data, off + 4)[0]
-            values.append(num / den if den != 0 else 0.0)
+            if den == 0:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"Malformed SRATIONAL on {_tag_label(tag)}: "
+                    f"numerator={num} denominator={den} at element {i}; "
+                    f"refusing to parse possibly malformed TIFF"
+                )
+            values.append(num / den)
         return tuple(values) if count > 1 else values[0]
 
     fmt_char = TIFF_TYPE_STRUCT_CODES.get(type_id)
@@ -633,7 +672,7 @@ def parse_ifd(data: bytes | memoryview, offset: int,
             # cap still fires.
             continue
         try:
-            dims[tag] = _read_value(data, value_area_offset, type_id, count, bo)
+            dims[tag] = _read_value(data, value_area_offset, type_id, count, bo, tag=tag)
         except (struct.error, ValueError):
             continue
 
@@ -686,7 +725,7 @@ def parse_ifd(data: bytes | memoryview, offset: int,
                 )
 
         if total_size <= inline_max:
-            value = _read_value(data, value_area_offset, type_id, count, bo)
+            value = _read_value(data, value_area_offset, type_id, count, bo, tag=tag)
         else:
             if is_big:
                 ptr = struct.unpack_from(f'{bo}Q', data, value_area_offset)[0]
@@ -702,7 +741,7 @@ def parse_ifd(data: bytes | memoryview, offset: int,
                     f"[{ptr}, {ptr + total_size}) exceeds file length "
                     f"{data_len}"
                 )
-            value = _read_value(data, ptr, type_id, count, bo)
+            value = _read_value(data, ptr, type_id, count, bo, tag=tag)
 
         entries[tag] = IFDEntry(tag=tag, type_id=type_id, count=count, value=value)
 
diff --git a/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_header.py b/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_header.py
index fab75b38..50be42db 100644
--- a/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_header.py
+++ b/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_header.py
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
 import pytest
 
 from xrspatial.geotiff._dtypes import RATIONAL, SRATIONAL
-from xrspatial.geotiff._header import (IFD, TAG_IMAGE_WIDTH, _read_value, parse_all_ifds,
-                                       parse_header, parse_ifd)
+from xrspatial.geotiff._header import (IFD, TAG_IMAGE_WIDTH, TAG_X_RESOLUTION, TAG_Y_RESOLUTION,
+                                       _read_value, parse_all_ifds, parse_header, parse_ifd)
 
 from .conftest import make_minimal_tiff
 
@@ -250,16 +250,35 @@ def test_self_loop_raises(self):
 class TestReadValueRationals:
     """T-8 coverage for RATIONAL / SRATIONAL edge cases in _read_value."""
 
-    def test_rational_denominator_zero_returns_zero(self):
-        # numerator=5, denominator=0 -- by convention return 0.0
+    def test_rational_denominator_zero_raises(self):
+        # numerator=5, denominator=0 -- malformed, reject instead of
+        # silently mapping to 0.0 (issue #2313).
         buf = struct.pack('<II', 5, 0)
-        result = _read_value(buf, 0, RATIONAL, 1, '<')
-        assert result == 0.0
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Malformed RATIONAL"):
+            _read_value(buf, 0, RATIONAL, 1, '<')
+
+    def test_rational_denominator_zero_names_tag(self):
+        # When the tag is known, the error message names it.
+        buf = struct.pack('<II', 5, 0)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="XResolution"):
+            _read_value(buf, 0, RATIONAL, 1, '<', tag=TAG_X_RESOLUTION)
 
-    def test_srational_denominator_zero_returns_zero(self):
+    def test_srational_denominator_zero_raises(self):
         buf = struct.pack('<ii', -3, 0)
-        result = _read_value(buf, 0, SRATIONAL, 1, '<')
-        assert result == 0.0
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Malformed SRATIONAL"):
+            _read_value(buf, 0, SRATIONAL, 1, '<')
+
+    def test_srational_denominator_zero_names_tag(self):
+        buf = struct.pack('<ii', -3, 0)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="YResolution"):
+            _read_value(buf, 0, SRATIONAL, 1, '<', tag=TAG_Y_RESOLUTION)
+
+    def test_rational_denominator_zero_in_array_raises(self):
+        # Second element has denominator=0; the failure points at the
+        # offending element index.
+        buf = struct.pack('<IIII', 1, 1, 5, 0)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="element 1"):
+            _read_value(buf, 0, RATIONAL, 2, '<')
 
     def test_rational_normal_value(self):
         buf = struct.pack('<II', 22, 7)
diff --git a/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_rational_zero_denominator_2313.py b/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_rational_zero_denominator_2313.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0b1386f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xrspatial/geotiff/tests/test_rational_zero_denominator_2313.py
@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+"""Regression tests for issue #2313.
+
+A RATIONAL or SRATIONAL tag with a zero denominator is malformed by
+the TIFF spec. The reader used to coerce it to 0.0 silently, which
+let corrupted `XResolution` / `YResolution` metadata round-trip as if
+the file were valid. After the fix the reader raises `ValueError`
+with the tag name and the denominator in the message.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import io
+import struct
+
+import pytest
+
+from xrspatial.geotiff import open_geotiff
+from xrspatial.geotiff._dtypes import RATIONAL, SRATIONAL
+from xrspatial.geotiff._header import (TAG_X_RESOLUTION, TAG_Y_RESOLUTION,
+                                       parse_all_ifds, parse_header)
+
+
+def _build_tiff_with_malformed_resolution(numerator: int, denominator: int,
+                                          *, which: int = TAG_X_RESOLUTION,
+                                          srational: bool = False) -> bytes:
+    """Build a minimal little-endian TIFF whose `which` tag is a single
+    RATIONAL (or SRATIONAL) pointing at `(numerator, denominator)`.
+
+    `which` should be `TAG_X_RESOLUTION` or `TAG_Y_RESOLUTION`. The
+    other resolution tag is filled with a valid 72/1 so the IFD is
+    only malformed in the one place the test cares about.
+
+    The file lays out:
+      - 8-byte TIFF header
+      - IFD with the minimum tags a parser will accept plus
+        X/YResolution; rationals are 8 bytes so they live in an
+        overflow block after the IFD entry table
+      - 16 bytes of strip data so StripOffsets / StripByteCounts
+        are consistent
+    """
+    if which not in (TAG_X_RESOLUTION, TAG_Y_RESOLUTION):
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"which must be TAG_X_RESOLUTION or TAG_Y_RESOLUTION, got {which}"
+        )
+
+    bo = '<'
+    rat_type = SRATIONAL if srational else RATIONAL
+    rat_fmt = f'{bo}ii' if srational else f'{bo}II'
+
+    # The malformed rational goes on `which`; the other resolution tag
+    # gets a healthy 72/1 so it doesn't trip the parser first.
+    if which == TAG_X_RESOLUTION:
+        xres = struct.pack(rat_fmt, numerator, denominator)
+        yres = struct.pack(rat_fmt, 72, 1)
+    else:
+        xres = struct.pack(rat_fmt, 72, 1)
+        yres = struct.pack(rat_fmt, numerator, denominator)
+
+    out = bytearray()
+    # Header: little-endian, classic TIFF, first IFD at offset 8.
+    out.extend(b'II')
+    out.extend(struct.pack(f'{bo}H', 42))
+    out.extend(struct.pack(f'{bo}I', 8))
+
+    tags = [
+        # (tag, type_id, count, raw_bytes)
+        (256, 3, 1, struct.pack(f'{bo}H', 4)),    # ImageWidth
+        (257, 3, 1, struct.pack(f'{bo}H', 4)),    # ImageLength
+        (258, 3, 1, struct.pack(f'{bo}H', 8)),    # BitsPerSample
+        (259, 3, 1, struct.pack(f'{bo}H', 1)),    # Compression
+        (262, 3, 1, struct.pack(f'{bo}H', 1)),    # PhotometricInterpretation
+        (273, 4, 1, b'\x00\x00\x00\x00'),         # StripOffsets (patched)
+        (277, 3, 1, struct.pack(f'{bo}H', 1)),    # SamplesPerPixel
+        (278, 3, 1, struct.pack(f'{bo}H', 4)),    # RowsPerStrip
+        (279, 4, 1, struct.pack(f'{bo}I', 16)),   # StripByteCounts
+        (TAG_X_RESOLUTION, rat_type, 1, xres),
+        (TAG_Y_RESOLUTION, rat_type, 1, yres),
+    ]
+    tags.sort(key=lambda t: t[0])
+
+    num_entries = len(tags)
+    ifd_start = 8
+    ifd_size = 2 + 12 * num_entries + 4
+    overflow_start = ifd_start + ifd_size
+
+    # Lay out overflow values for any tag whose raw bytes exceed 4.
+    overflow_buf = bytearray()
+    tag_offsets: dict[int, int | None] = {}
+    for tag, typ, count, raw in tags:
+        if len(raw) > 4:
+            tag_offsets[tag] = len(overflow_buf)
+            overflow_buf.extend(raw)
+            if len(overflow_buf) % 2:
+                overflow_buf.append(0)
+        else:
+            tag_offsets[tag] = None
+
+    pixel_data_start = overflow_start + len(overflow_buf)
+    # Patch StripOffsets to point at the actual pixel block.
+    patched = []
+    for tag, typ, count, raw in tags:
+        if tag == 273:
+            patched.append((tag, typ, count,
+                            struct.pack(f'{bo}I', pixel_data_start)))
+        else:
+            patched.append((tag, typ, count, raw))
+    tags = patched
+
+    # IFD entries.
+    out.extend(struct.pack(f'{bo}H', num_entries))
+    for tag, typ, count, raw in tags:
+        out.extend(struct.pack(f'{bo}HHI', tag, typ, count))
+        if len(raw) <= 4:
+            out.extend(raw.ljust(4, b'\x00'))
+        else:
+            ptr = overflow_start + tag_offsets[tag]
+            out.extend(struct.pack(f'{bo}I', ptr))
+    # Next IFD pointer (none).
+    out.extend(struct.pack(f'{bo}I', 0))
+    # Overflow block.
+    out.extend(overflow_buf)
+    # Pad to pixel_data_start.
+    while len(out) < pixel_data_start:
+        out.append(0)
+    # 16 bytes of pixel payload (matches StripByteCounts above).
+    out.extend(b'\x00' * 16)
+
+    return bytes(out)
+
+
+class TestRationalZeroDenominator:
+    """Issue #2313: zero-denominator rationals must fail loudly."""
+
+    def test_rational_zero_denominator_surfaces_from_parse_all_ifds(self):
+        data = _build_tiff_with_malformed_resolution(72, 0)
+        header = parse_header(data)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="XResolution"):
+            parse_all_ifds(data, header)
+
+    def test_rational_zero_denominator_message_includes_denominator(self):
+        data = _build_tiff_with_malformed_resolution(150, 0)
+        header = parse_header(data)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc:
+            parse_all_ifds(data, header)
+        message = str(exc.value)
+        assert "Malformed RATIONAL" in message
+        assert "XResolution" in message
+        assert "denominator=0" in message
+        assert "numerator=150" in message
+
+    def test_srational_zero_denominator_surfaces_from_parse_all_ifds(self):
+        data = _build_tiff_with_malformed_resolution(-5, 0, srational=True)
+        header = parse_header(data)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Malformed SRATIONAL"):
+            parse_all_ifds(data, header)
+
+    def test_rational_zero_denominator_fails_open_geotiff(self):
+        # The public read entry point should fail loudly too, not just
+        # the low-level header parser.
+        data = _build_tiff_with_malformed_resolution(72, 0)
+        buf = io.BytesIO(data)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="XResolution"):
+            open_geotiff(buf)
+
+    def test_yresolution_zero_denominator_named_in_error(self):
+        # Same path, different tag.
+        data = _build_tiff_with_malformed_resolution(
+            72, 0, which=TAG_Y_RESOLUTION
+        )
+        header = parse_header(data)
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="YResolution"):
+            parse_all_ifds(data, header)
+
+    # Sanity check: the helpers we use to assert tag ids actually exist.
+    def test_tag_constants_present(self):
+        assert TAG_X_RESOLUTION == 282
+        assert TAG_Y_RESOLUTION == 283