diff --git a/src/Drivers/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Modbus.Contracts/ModbusEquipmentTagParser.cs b/src/Drivers/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Modbus.Contracts/ModbusEquipmentTagParser.cs
index a8ef9e5e..893a9155 100644
--- a/src/Drivers/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Modbus.Contracts/ModbusEquipmentTagParser.cs
+++ b/src/Drivers/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Modbus.Contracts/ModbusEquipmentTagParser.cs
@@ -35,9 +35,13 @@ public static class ModbusEquipmentTagParser
             var bitIndex = (byte)ReadInt(root, "bitIndex");
             var stringLength = (ushort)ReadInt(root, "stringLength");
             // isArray / arrayLength — optional keys authored by the typed Modbus tag editor.
-            // When arrayLength > 0 we expose an array tag of that count; otherwise scalar.
+            // Canonical rule: a tag is an array iff isArray:true AND arrayLength >= 1.
+            // isArray:false (with any arrayLength) is scalar — the foundation materialises a
+            // scalar OPC UA node, so returning an array value would cause a shape mismatch.
+            // A 1-element array (isArray:true, arrayLength:1) IS valid and reads as short[1].
+            var isArray = ReadBool(root, "isArray");
             var arrayLength = ReadInt(root, "arrayLength");
-            int? arrayCount = arrayLength > 0 ? arrayLength : null;
+            int? arrayCount = (isArray && arrayLength >= 1) ? arrayLength : null;
             def = new ModbusTagDefinition(
                 Name: reference, Region: region, Address: (ushort)address, DataType: dataType,
                 Writable: true, ByteOrder: byteOrder, BitIndex: bitIndex, StringLength: stringLength,
@@ -56,4 +60,7 @@ public static class ModbusEquipmentTagParser
     private static int ReadInt(JsonElement o, string name)
         => o.TryGetProperty(name, out var e) && e.ValueKind == JsonValueKind.Number
            && e.TryGetInt32(out var v) ? v : 0;
+
+    private static bool ReadBool(JsonElement o, string name)
+        => o.TryGetProperty(name, out var e) && e.ValueKind == JsonValueKind.True;
 }
diff --git a/tests/Drivers/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Modbus.Tests/ModbusArrayTests.cs b/tests/Drivers/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Modbus.Tests/ModbusArrayTests.cs
index 7fde3cb6..889a80f0 100644
--- a/tests/Drivers/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Modbus.Tests/ModbusArrayTests.cs
+++ b/tests/Drivers/ZB.MOM.WW.OtOpcUa.Driver.Modbus.Tests/ModbusArrayTests.cs
@@ -332,6 +332,81 @@ public sealed class ModbusArrayTests
         def!.ArrayCount.ShouldBeNull();
     }
 
+    // ---- C-1 regression tests: isArray gate ----
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     C-1 regression: <c>isArray:false</c> with a non-zero <c>arrayLength</c> must produce
+    ///     <c>ArrayCount == null</c> (scalar), NOT an array. The foundation materialises a scalar
+    ///     node when <c>isArray</c> is false; if the driver returned an array the value-shape
+    ///     would mismatch and the OPC UA write would be rejected.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parser_IsArrayFalse_With_ArrayLength_Gives_Null_ArrayCount()
+    {
+        // isArray:false, arrayLength:8 → must be scalar (ArrayCount == null).
+        var json = """{"region":"HoldingRegisters","address":0,"dataType":"Int16","byteOrder":"BigEndian","bitIndex":0,"stringLength":0,"isArray":false,"arrayLength":8}""";
+        ModbusEquipmentTagParser.TryParse(json, out var def).ShouldBeTrue();
+        def!.ArrayCount.ShouldBeNull();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     C-1 regression: <c>isArray:false</c> with <c>arrayLength:8</c> must read as a SCALAR,
+    ///     not as an 8-element array.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Equipment_Tag_IsArrayFalse_With_ArrayLength_Reads_As_Scalar()
+    {
+        // isArray:false, arrayLength:8 → scalar read; only register[40] is consumed.
+        var json = """{"region":"HoldingRegisters","address":40,"dataType":"Int16","byteOrder":"BigEndian","bitIndex":0,"stringLength":0,"isArray":false,"arrayLength":8}""";
+        var fake = new ModbusDriverTests.FakeTransport();
+        var opts = new ModbusDriverOptions { Host = "fake", Tags = [] };
+        var drv = new ModbusDriver(opts, "modbus-c1-scalar", _ => fake);
+        await drv.InitializeAsync("{}", CancellationToken.None);
+        fake.HoldingRegisters[40] = 9999;
+
+        var r = await drv.ReadAsync([json], CancellationToken.None);
+
+        r[0].StatusCode.ShouldBe(0u);
+        // Must be a scalar short, NOT a short[].
+        r[0].Value.ShouldBeOfType<short>();
+        r[0].Value.ShouldBe((short)9999);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Verifies that <c>isArray:true, arrayLength:1</c> produces <c>ArrayCount == 1</c>
+    ///     (a valid 1-element array — the canonical rule says arrayLength &gt;= 1 is valid).
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parser_IsArrayTrue_ArrayLength1_Gives_ArrayCount_1()
+    {
+        var json = """{"region":"HoldingRegisters","address":0,"dataType":"Int16","byteOrder":"BigEndian","bitIndex":0,"stringLength":0,"isArray":true,"arrayLength":1}""";
+        ModbusEquipmentTagParser.TryParse(json, out var def).ShouldBeTrue();
+        def!.ArrayCount.ShouldBe(1);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Verifies that <c>isArray:true, arrayLength:1</c> reads as a 1-ELEMENT array (not a
+    ///     scalar). The foundation materialises a <c>[1]</c> OPC UA array node for this tag.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Equipment_Tag_IsArrayTrue_ArrayLength1_Reads_As_One_Element_Array()
+    {
+        var json = """{"region":"HoldingRegisters","address":50,"dataType":"Int16","byteOrder":"BigEndian","bitIndex":0,"stringLength":0,"isArray":true,"arrayLength":1}""";
+        var fake = new ModbusDriverTests.FakeTransport();
+        var opts = new ModbusDriverOptions { Host = "fake", Tags = [] };
+        var drv = new ModbusDriver(opts, "modbus-c1-arr1", _ => fake);
+        await drv.InitializeAsync("{}", CancellationToken.None);
+        fake.HoldingRegisters[50] = 777;
+
+        var r = await drv.ReadAsync([json], CancellationToken.None);
+
+        r[0].StatusCode.ShouldBe(0u);
+        // Must be a short[] of length 1, NOT a scalar short.
+        var arr = r[0].Value.ShouldBeOfType<short[]>();
+        arr.Length.ShouldBe(1);
+        arr[0].ShouldBe((short)777);
+    }
+
     /// <summary>Recording address space builder for capturing discovered attributes.</summary>
     /// <param name="captured">List to capture discovered attributes into.</param>
     private sealed class RecordingBuilder(List<DriverAttributeInfo> captured) : IAddressSpaceBuilder