diff --git a/src/verifier.rs b/src/verifier.rs
index 4eecb3c..5b62614 100644
--- a/src/verifier.rs
+++ b/src/verifier.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use crate::{r1cs_to_qap::R1CSToQAP, Groth16};
 
 use super::{PreparedVerifyingKey, Proof, VerifyingKey};
 
-use ark_relations::gr1cs::Result as R1CSResult;
+use ark_relations::gr1cs::{Result as R1CSResult, SynthesisError};
 
 use core::ops::{AddAssign, Neg};
 
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ impl<E: Pairing, QAP: R1CSToQAP> Groth16<E, QAP> {
         pvk: &PreparedVerifyingKey<E>,
         public_inputs: &[E::ScalarField],
     ) -> R1CSResult<E::G1> {
+        // Ensure the number of provided public inputs matches the verification key query length.
+        // Expected: gamma_abc_g1 has 1 extra element accounting for the constant term.
+        if public_inputs.len() + 1 != pvk.vk.gamma_abc_g1.len() {
+            return Err(SynthesisError::AssignmentMissing);
+        }
+
         let mut g_ic = pvk.vk.gamma_abc_g1[0].into_group();
         for (i, b) in public_inputs.iter().zip(pvk.vk.gamma_abc_g1.iter().skip(1)) {
             g_ic.add_assign(&b.mul_bigint(i.into_bigint()));