diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/layers/moe/utils.py b/python/sglang/srt/layers/moe/utils.py
index 3778d18e2..424b685dc 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/layers/moe/utils.py
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/layers/moe/utils.py
@@ -447,12 +447,18 @@ def should_use_dp_reduce_scatterv():
     Use reduce_scatterv in the standard dispatcher's combine() for DP attention
     with EP, replacing the default all-reduce + dp_scatter path.
     Only changes the combine (post-kernel) communication; dispatch is unchanged.
+
+    The reduce_scatterv group is the global TP group, while its variable split
+    sizes are one entry per attention-DP rank. Therefore this optimization is
+    valid only when each attention-DP shard has a single rank (attention TP=1).
+    Configurations with partial attention TP fall back to all-reduce + dp_scatter.
     """
     return (
         not should_use_flashinfer_cutlass_moe_fp4_allgather()
         and get_moe_a2a_backend().is_none()
         and is_dp_attention_enabled()
         and get_parallel().attn_dp_size > 1
+        and get_parallel().tp_size == get_parallel().attn_dp_size
         and get_parallel().moe_ep_size == get_parallel().attn_dp_size
     )
 
diff --git a/test/registered/unit/test_runtime_context.py b/test/registered/unit/test_runtime_context.py
index 35ea11e3f..0eecb09e5 100644
--- a/test/registered/unit/test_runtime_context.py
+++ b/test/registered/unit/test_runtime_context.py
@@ -894,6 +894,23 @@ class TestForwardFlags(_IsolatedServerArgs):
             self.assertTrue(fwd.flashinfer_trtllm_bypass)
         self.assertFalse(fwd.flashinfer_trtllm_bypass)
 
+    def test_dp_reduce_scatterv_requires_single_rank_attention_dp_shards(self):
+        from sglang.srt.layers.moe.utils import should_use_dp_reduce_scatterv
+
+        reset_context()
+        with patch(
+            "sglang.srt.layers.moe.utils.is_dp_attention_enabled",
+            return_value=True,
+        ):
+            # The optimized path is valid when the collective group and the
+            # variable-split list have the same number of entries.
+            with get_parallel().override(tp_size=8, attn_dp_size=8, moe_ep_size=8):
+                self.assertTrue(should_use_dp_reduce_scatterv())
+
+            # Otherwise the standard all-reduce plus scatter path must be used.
+            with get_parallel().override(tp_size=8, attn_dp_size=2, moe_ep_size=2):
+                self.assertFalse(should_use_dp_reduce_scatterv())
+
 
 class TestPublishLifecycle(_IsolatedServerArgs):
     """Publish installs the resolved server_args and seeds the capture tier."""