diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/wallet/nut13.rs b/core/archipelago/src/wallet/nut13.rs
index 81a6368c..668df81a 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/wallet/nut13.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/wallet/nut13.rs
@@ -387,7 +387,6 @@ async fn write_seed(data_dir: &Path, mnemonic: &bip39::Mnemonic, source: SeedSou
 #[derive(Debug, Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 struct StoredCounters {
     /// keyset id → next unused counter.
-    #[serde(default)]
     counters: BTreeMap<String, u32>,
 }
 
@@ -849,7 +848,7 @@ mod tests {
         let dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
         fs::create_dir_all(dir.path().join("wallet")).await.unwrap();
         let path = dir.path().join(COUNTER_FILE);
-        for damaged in ["", "   ", "{ truncated"] {
+        for damaged in ["", "   ", "{ truncated", "{}", "{\"counters\":null}"] {
             fs::write(&path, damaged).await.unwrap();
             assert!(reserve_counters(dir.path(), V1_KEYSET, 1).await.is_err());
             assert_eq!(fs::read_to_string(&path).await.unwrap(), damaged);
diff --git a/docs/paid-content-recovery-followup.md b/docs/paid-content-recovery-followup.md
index f551a3d2..be537864 100644
--- a/docs/paid-content-recovery-followup.md
+++ b/docs/paid-content-recovery-followup.md
@@ -104,3 +104,10 @@ Read-only checks found well-shaped seed/counter JSON on dev and Yaya; no secret
 values were printed and no wallet files were changed by those checks. Production
 build/deployment of this prerequisite remains pending. Durable initial purchase
 intent, mint-operation recovery, seller receipt and refund recovery remain open.
+
+Strict-schema follow-up: an existing counter document must actually contain its
+counter map. Empty JSON objects and null maps are rejected without modification,
+not deserialized as a fresh zero state. The full isolated suite again passes
+1,755tests,0failures,5existing ignored in
+`/tmp/archy-wallet-recovery-strict-schema-full-tests.log`. No live deployment or
+claim of complete initial-payment recovery is implied.