diff --git a/src/nvfp4_megamoe_kernel/cutlass_nvfp4_gemm/kernel.py b/src/nvfp4_megamoe_kernel/cutlass_nvfp4_gemm/kernel.py
index bda4e353..663bb222 100644
--- a/src/nvfp4_megamoe_kernel/cutlass_nvfp4_gemm/kernel.py
+++ b/src/nvfp4_megamoe_kernel/cutlass_nvfp4_gemm/kernel.py
@@ -94,10 +94,9 @@ def cutlass_grouped_nvfp4_gemm(
         print(f"[cutlass_grouped_gemm] slots={num_slots} K={K} N={N} "
               f"experts={num_experts} sfb_prepacked={sfb_prepacked}")
 
-    # Gather input rows by slot_token — needed when x_fp4 has token rows
-    # but we need slot rows (L1). When slot_token is the identity (L2),
-    # x_fp4 already has slot rows and the gather is a no-op.
-    if slot_token is not None and not torch.equal(slot_token, torch.arange(num_slots, device=x_fp4.device)):
+    # Gather input rows by slot_token when provided (L1: tokens→slots).
+    # L2 doesn't pass slot_token, so no gather needed.
+    if slot_token is not None:
         slot_x = x_fp4[slot_token]
         slot_x_sf = x_sf[slot_token]
     else:
diff --git a/src/nvfp4_megamoe_kernel/nvfp4_mega_moe.py b/src/nvfp4_megamoe_kernel/nvfp4_mega_moe.py
index 08692619..ce1d3f33 100644
--- a/src/nvfp4_megamoe_kernel/nvfp4_mega_moe.py
+++ b/src/nvfp4_megamoe_kernel/nvfp4_mega_moe.py
@@ -369,6 +369,14 @@ def nvfp4_mega_moe_full(
     # Ensure alpha is a plain Python float (C extension can't handle torch scalars)
     l1_alpha = float(l1_global_scale) if not isinstance(l1_global_scale, float) else l1_global_scale
 
+    # Shape consistency asserts — catch mismatched slot mappings early
+    assert slot_expert_local.ndim == 1
+    assert slot_token.ndim == 1
+    assert slot_weight.ndim == 1
+    assert slot_expert_local.numel() == num_slots
+    assert slot_token.numel() == num_slots
+    assert slot_weight.numel() == num_slots
+
     # Prepack SFB weight scales into CUTLASS layout (lazy, once per layer)
     l1_N = l1_w.shape[2]
     l1_K = l1_w.shape[1] * 2
@@ -386,6 +394,9 @@ def nvfp4_mega_moe_full(
         sfb_prepacked=True,
     )  # (num_slots, 2*INTER) bfloat16
 
+    # Post-L1 shape asserts
+    assert l1_slots.shape[0] == num_slots
+
     if MEGA_MOE_DEBUG:
         print(f"[L1-out] nan={torch.isnan(l1_slots).any().item()} "
               f"abs_max={l1_slots.abs().max().item():.4e}")
@@ -402,6 +413,11 @@ def nvfp4_mega_moe_full(
 
     # Step 4: Quantize activated slots → FP4
     l1_fp4, l1_sf_out, l2_global_scale = stage_activation(activated)
+
+    # Pre-L2 shape asserts
+    assert activated.shape[0] == num_slots
+    assert l1_fp4.shape[0] == num_slots
+    assert l1_sf_out.shape[0] == num_slots
     l2_alpha = float(l2_global_scale) if not isinstance(l2_global_scale, float) else l2_global_scale
 
     if MEGA_MOE_DEBUG: