diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b706a578d..2eb36737a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@
 
 #### Fixed
 
+- `reproject` now rejects an explicit `nodata=` value that does not
+  fit the source/output integer dtype range. Previously the worker's
+  cast-back step silently wrapped the sentinel (e.g. `-9999` in a
+  `uint8` array landed at `0`), so out-of-bounds output pixels were
+  the same as valid zero pixels while `attrs['nodata']` still
+  advertised `-9999`. Explicit out-of-range values now raise
+  `ValueError`; attrs-derived out-of-range values (legacy files
+  such as `uint16 + nodata=-9999`) emit a `UserWarning` and fall
+  back to the dtype-appropriate sentinel. (#2572)
 - `zonal.stats` on the cupy backend now agrees with the numpy and dask
   backends on two edge cases. A zone whose values are all NaN (or all
   equal to `nodata_values`) is preserved in the output with NaN stats
diff --git a/xrspatial/reproject/__init__.py b/xrspatial/reproject/__init__.py
index 1c38b4f6d..adb115e94 100644
--- a/xrspatial/reproject/__init__.py
+++ b/xrspatial/reproject/__init__.py
@@ -680,7 +680,12 @@ def reproject(
     resampling : str
         One of 'nearest', 'bilinear', 'cubic'.
     nodata : float or None
-        Nodata value. Auto-detected if None.
+        Nodata value. Auto-detected if None. For integer input dtypes,
+        an explicit value that does not fit the dtype range raises
+        ``ValueError`` (e.g. ``nodata=-9999`` with a ``uint8`` raster).
+        Attrs/rioxarray-derived out-of-range values emit a
+        ``UserWarning`` and fall back to ``dtype.min`` for signed or
+        ``dtype.max`` for unsigned so legacy files still load (#2572).
     transform_precision : int
         Control-grid subdivisions for the coordinate transform (default 16).
         Higher values increase accuracy at the cost of more pyproj calls.
diff --git a/xrspatial/reproject/_crs_utils.py b/xrspatial/reproject/_crs_utils.py
index 03712f89e..0bf18d705 100644
--- a/xrspatial/reproject/_crs_utils.py
+++ b/xrspatial/reproject/_crs_utils.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import warnings
+
 import numpy as np
 
 from xrspatial.reproject._lite_crs import CRS as LiteCRS
@@ -135,24 +137,61 @@ def _detect_nodata(raster, nodata=None, dtype=None):
     is rejected.
 
     Integer dtypes can't carry NaN. When *dtype* is integer the
-    resolved nodata is checked against the dtype: a NaN coming from
-    upstream (or the absent-upstream default) is swapped for a
-    dtype-appropriate sentinel via :func:`_default_integer_nodata`
-    (signed -> ``dtype.min``, unsigned -> ``dtype.max``). Without that
-    swap, the worker's cast-back step silently turned every
-    out-of-bounds pixel into ``0`` while ``attrs['nodata']`` still
-    advertised NaN (#2185).
+    resolved nodata is checked against the dtype:
+
+    * NaN (from upstream or the absent-upstream default) is swapped
+      for a dtype-appropriate sentinel via
+      :func:`_default_integer_nodata` (signed -> ``dtype.min``,
+      unsigned -> ``dtype.max``). Without that swap, the worker's
+      cast-back step silently turned every out-of-bounds pixel into
+      ``0`` while ``attrs['nodata']`` still advertised NaN (#2185).
+    * A finite value that does not fit the dtype range is rejected
+      when the caller passed it explicitly (raises ``ValueError``),
+      or swapped for the dtype default with a ``UserWarning`` when it
+      came in via attrs/rioxarray. Without that guard, the worker's
+      cast-back step wraps the sentinel (e.g. ``-9999`` into
+      ``uint8`` becomes ``0``) while ``attrs['nodata']`` still
+      advertises the original value (#2572).
     """
     nd = _detect_nodata_raw(raster, nodata)
 
-    # For integer outputs, swap any resolved NaN for a sentinel that
-    # actually fits the dtype. Finite values (including the
-    # user-supplied ones) pass through untouched so explicit nodata
-    # always wins.
-    if dtype is not None and np.isnan(nd):
+    if dtype is not None:
         dt = np.dtype(dtype)
         if np.issubdtype(dt, np.integer):
-            return _default_integer_nodata(dt)
+            if np.isnan(nd):
+                # Swap NaN for a dtype-appropriate sentinel.
+                return _default_integer_nodata(dt)
+
+            info = np.iinfo(dt)
+            if not (info.min <= nd <= info.max):
+                # Finite but out of range. Explicit arg = hard error;
+                # implicit (attrs/rioxarray) = swap with warning so
+                # legacy files (e.g. uint16 + nodata=-9999) still load.
+                if nodata is not None:
+                    raise ValueError(
+                        f"nodata={nodata!r} cannot be represented in "
+                        f"dtype {dt}: valid range is "
+                        f"[{info.min}, {info.max}]. The worker's cast "
+                        f"step would silently wrap the sentinel (e.g. "
+                        f"-9999 into uint8 becomes 0), so out-of-range "
+                        f"output pixels would be indistinguishable "
+                        f"from valid data. Pass a representable nodata "
+                        f"or use a wider dtype."
+                    )
+                fallback = _default_integer_nodata(dt)
+                # stacklevel=3 surfaces the warning at the public
+                # reproject() call (user -> reproject -> _detect_nodata
+                # -> warn) so the user sees the location they can act on.
+                warnings.warn(
+                    f"Raster attrs declare nodata={nd!r}, which is "
+                    f"outside the {dt} range "
+                    f"[{info.min}, {info.max}]. Using {fallback!r} "
+                    f"instead so the worker's cast-back step does not "
+                    f"silently wrap the sentinel (#2572).",
+                    UserWarning,
+                    stacklevel=3,
+                )
+                return fallback
 
     return nd
 
diff --git a/xrspatial/tests/test_reproject.py b/xrspatial/tests/test_reproject.py
index ccbdcd0e9..ef60606d8 100644
--- a/xrspatial/tests/test_reproject.py
+++ b/xrspatial/tests/test_reproject.py
@@ -139,6 +139,123 @@ def test_detect_nodata_from_attrs(self):
         assert val == -1.0
 
 
+class TestDetectNodataDtypeRange:
+    """Regression coverage for #2572.
+
+    Explicit out-of-range nodata used to silently wrap during the
+    worker's cast-back step (e.g. ``-9999`` in a ``uint8`` array landed
+    at ``0``) while ``attrs['nodata']`` kept advertising the original
+    value. ``_detect_nodata`` must reject the explicit case and warn
+    on the attrs-derived case.
+    """
+
+    def test_explicit_negative_nodata_for_uint8_raises(self):
+        from xrspatial.reproject._crs_utils import _detect_nodata
+        raster = _make_raster(np.zeros((4, 4), dtype=np.uint8))
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="uint8"):
+            _detect_nodata(raster, nodata=-9999, dtype=np.uint8)
+
+    def test_explicit_too_large_nodata_for_uint16_raises(self):
+        from xrspatial.reproject._crs_utils import _detect_nodata
+        raster = _make_raster(np.zeros((4, 4), dtype=np.uint16))
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="uint16"):
+            _detect_nodata(raster, nodata=70000, dtype=np.uint16)
+
+    def test_explicit_in_range_nodata_passes(self):
+        """Boundary case: dtype.max stays untouched."""
+        from xrspatial.reproject._crs_utils import _detect_nodata
+        raster = _make_raster(np.zeros((4, 4), dtype=np.uint8))
+        assert _detect_nodata(raster, nodata=255, dtype=np.uint8) == 255.0
+
+    def test_explicit_in_range_signed_min(self):
+        from xrspatial.reproject._crs_utils import _detect_nodata
+        raster = _make_raster(np.zeros((4, 4), dtype=np.int16))
+        assert _detect_nodata(raster, nodata=-32768, dtype=np.int16) == -32768.0
+
+    def test_attrs_out_of_range_warns_and_falls_back(self):
+        """Legacy files (uint16 + nodata=-9999) should warn, not crash."""
+        from xrspatial.reproject._crs_utils import _detect_nodata
+        # nodata in attrs is out of range for uint16
+        raster = _make_raster(np.zeros((4, 4), dtype=np.uint16), nodata=-9999)
+        with pytest.warns(UserWarning, match="uint16"):
+            val = _detect_nodata(raster, dtype=np.uint16)
+        # Falls back to dtype.max for unsigned
+        assert val == float(np.iinfo(np.uint16).max)
+
+
+class TestReprojectIntegerNodataDtypeRange:
+    """End-to-end regression coverage for #2572 through ``reproject()``."""
+
+    def test_reproject_uint8_negative_nodata_raises(self):
+        from xrspatial.reproject import reproject
+        arr = (np.ones((4, 4), dtype=np.uint8) * 10)
+        da_obj = xr.DataArray(
+            arr, dims=['y', 'x'],
+            coords={'y': np.linspace(40, 30, 4),
+                    'x': np.linspace(-5, 5, 4)},
+            attrs={'crs': 'EPSG:4326'},
+        )
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="uint8"):
+            reproject(da_obj, 'EPSG:4326', nodata=-9999)
+
+    def test_reproject_uint16_too_large_nodata_raises(self):
+        from xrspatial.reproject import reproject
+        arr = (np.ones((4, 4), dtype=np.uint16) * 10)
+        da_obj = xr.DataArray(
+            arr, dims=['y', 'x'],
+            coords={'y': np.linspace(40, 30, 4),
+                    'x': np.linspace(-5, 5, 4)},
+            attrs={'crs': 'EPSG:4326'},
+        )
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="uint16"):
+            reproject(da_obj, 'EPSG:4326', nodata=70000)
+
+    def test_reproject_uint8_in_range_nodata_writes_correct_pixels(self):
+        """Happy path: representable nodata produces non-corrupted output
+        where unfilled pixels carry the declared sentinel.
+        """
+        from xrspatial.reproject import reproject
+        arr = (np.ones((4, 4), dtype=np.uint8) * 10)
+        da_obj = xr.DataArray(
+            arr, dims=['y', 'x'],
+            coords={'y': np.linspace(40, 30, 4),
+                    'x': np.linspace(-5, 5, 4)},
+            attrs={'crs': 'EPSG:4326'},
+        )
+        # Expand bounds so the output has nodata around the edges.
+        out = reproject(
+            da_obj, 'EPSG:4326', nodata=255,
+            bounds=(-20, 20, 20, 50),
+        )
+        assert out.dtype == np.uint8
+        assert out.attrs['nodata'] == 255.0
+        # The sentinel actually appears in the array (no silent wrap).
+        n_nodata = int((out.values == 255).sum())
+        assert n_nodata > 0
+        # The entire top row sits above the source extent (y=40 is the
+        # source max), so it must be all nodata, not a mix of 0 and 255.
+        assert (out.values[0, :] == 255).all(), (
+            f"top row should be all nodata=255, got {out.values[0, :]}"
+        )
+
+    def test_reproject_int16_negative_nodata_works(self):
+        from xrspatial.reproject import reproject
+        arr = (np.ones((4, 4), dtype=np.int16) * 10)
+        da_obj = xr.DataArray(
+            arr, dims=['y', 'x'],
+            coords={'y': np.linspace(40, 30, 4),
+                    'x': np.linspace(-5, 5, 4)},
+            attrs={'crs': 'EPSG:4326'},
+        )
+        out = reproject(
+            da_obj, 'EPSG:4326', nodata=-32768,
+            bounds=(-20, 20, 20, 50),
+        )
+        assert out.dtype == np.int16
+        assert out.attrs['nodata'] == -32768.0
+        assert (out.values == -32768).any()
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # ApproximateTransform
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------