diff --git a/crates/data-chain/src/primary/runner.rs b/crates/data-chain/src/primary/runner.rs
index 721ce98..579e1ef 100644
--- a/crates/data-chain/src/primary/runner.rs
+++ b/crates/data-chain/src/primary/runner.rs
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ pub enum PrimaryCommand {
     ConsensusDecided {
         /// The height that was decided
         height: u64,
+        /// The Cut that was decided (used to sync positions)
+        cut: Cut,
     },
 }
 
@@ -140,12 +142,16 @@ impl PrimaryHandle {
     /// Notify the Primary that consensus has decided on a height
     ///
     /// This triggers the Primary to advance its state and continue producing cuts.
+    /// The Cut is passed so that the Primary can sync its position tracking with
+    /// the authoritative decided state - this ensures validators that missed some
+    /// CARs during collection still have consistent position tracking.
     pub async fn notify_decision(
         &self,
         height: u64,
+        cut: Cut,
     ) -> Result<(), mpsc::error::SendError<PrimaryCommand>> {
         self.command_sender
-            .send(PrimaryCommand::ConsensusDecided { height })
+            .send(PrimaryCommand::ConsensusDecided { height, cut })
             .await
     }
 }
@@ -449,13 +455,19 @@ impl Primary {
     /// Handle commands from external sources (e.g., node)
     async fn handle_command(&mut self, cmd: PrimaryCommand) {
         match cmd {
-            PrimaryCommand::ConsensusDecided { height } => {
+            PrimaryCommand::ConsensusDecided { height, cut } => {
                 debug!(
                     height,
                     validator = %self.config.validator_id,
+                    cut_cars = cut.cars.len(),
                     "Received consensus decision notification"
                 );
 
+                // CRITICAL: Sync position tracking from the decided Cut BEFORE advancing state
+                // This ensures validators that missed some CARs during collection still have
+                // consistent position tracking for subsequent heights
+                self.state.sync_positions_from_cut(&cut);
+
                 // Advance state to allow producing cuts for the next height
                 self.state.finalize_height(height);
 
diff --git a/crates/data-chain/src/primary/state.rs b/crates/data-chain/src/primary/state.rs
index d7c646c..1b51218 100644
--- a/crates/data-chain/src/primary/state.rs
+++ b/crates/data-chain/src/primary/state.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 use crate::attestation::{AggregatedAttestation, Attestation};
 use crate::batch::BatchDigest;
 use crate::car::Car;
+use crate::cut::Cut;
 use cipherbft_types::{Hash, ValidatorId};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::time::Instant;
@@ -215,6 +216,27 @@ impl PrimaryState {
         self.last_seen_car_hashes.insert(validator, car_hash);
     }
 
+    /// Sync position tracking from a decided Cut
+    ///
+    /// When consensus decides on a Cut, all validators must update their position
+    /// tracking to reflect the decided state. This is critical because:
+    /// 1. A validator may not have received all CARs during the collection phase
+    /// 2. Position validation requires sequential positions (no gaps)
+    /// 3. Without syncing, future CARs will be rejected with PositionGap errors
+    ///
+    /// This method updates `last_seen_positions` and `last_seen_car_hashes` for
+    /// each CAR in the decided Cut if the position is higher than what we've seen.
+    pub fn sync_positions_from_cut(&mut self, cut: &Cut) {
+        for (validator, car) in &cut.cars {
+            let current_pos = self.last_seen_positions.get(validator).copied();
+            // Only update if the decided position is higher than our current tracking
+            if current_pos.is_none_or(|p| car.position > p) {
+                self.last_seen_positions.insert(*validator, car.position);
+                self.last_seen_car_hashes.insert(*validator, car.hash());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Get last seen Car hash for parent_ref validation
     pub fn last_seen_car_hash(&self, validator: &ValidatorId) -> Option<&Hash> {
         self.last_seen_car_hashes.get(validator)
diff --git a/crates/node/src/node.rs b/crates/node/src/node.rs
index 52bdd7e..2764ed7 100644
--- a/crates/node/src/node.rs
+++ b/crates/node/src/node.rs
@@ -1030,8 +1030,9 @@ impl Node {
 
                     // Notify Primary that consensus has decided on this height (only when DCL enabled)
                     // This allows Primary to advance its state and produce cuts for the next height
+                    // CRITICAL: We pass the cut so Primary can sync position tracking from decided CARs
                     if let Some(ref mut handle) = primary_handle {
-                        if let Err(e) = handle.notify_decision(height.0).await {
+                        if let Err(e) = handle.notify_decision(height.0, cut.clone()).await {
                             warn!("Failed to notify Primary of consensus decision: {:?}", e);
                         }
                     }