diff --git a/packages/core/src/persist.test.ts b/packages/core/src/persist.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..534302d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/persist.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { __test } from "./persist";
+
+const { createDeepProxy } = __test;
+
+// No-op trigger for testing (we don't need persistence in these tests)
+const noopTrigger = () => {};
+
+/**
+ * Helper to create a proxy using the real createDeepProxy function.
+ * Uses minimal mock instance and property key for testing purposes.
+ */
+function createTestProxy<T extends object>(value: T): T {
+  return createDeepProxy(value, {}, "testProp", noopTrigger);
+}
+
+describe("persist proxy - error handler heap overflow bug", () => {
+  it("should return undefined on error instead of creating infinite proxy chain", () => {
+    // Create an object with a throwing getter
+    const throwingObj = {
+      get badProp(): never {
+        throw new Error("This getter throws");
+      },
+      normalProp: "hello",
+    };
+
+    const proxied = createTestProxy(throwingObj);
+
+    // Accessing the throwing getter should return undefined, not create {} and recurse
+    // Before the fix, this would cause a heap overflow from infinite proxy recursion
+    const result = proxied.badProp;
+
+    expect(result).toBe(undefined);
+    // The normal prop should still work
+    expect(proxied.normalProp).toBe("hello");
+  });
+
+  it("should not corrupt the original object on error", () => {
+    const original: Record<string, any> = {
+      get explosive(): never {
+        throw new Error("boom");
+      },
+    };
+
+    const proxied = createTestProxy(original);
+
+    // Access the throwing getter
+    void proxied.explosive;
+
+    // The original should not be mutated with {}
+    // Check that 'explosive' is still a getter, not {}
+    const descriptor = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(original, "explosive");
+    expect(descriptor?.get).toBeDefined();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/core/src/persist.ts b/packages/core/src/persist.ts
index dc78742..bf84a15 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/persist.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/persist.ts
@@ -123,10 +123,10 @@ function createDeepProxy(value: any, instance: any, propertyKey: string, trigger
                 return prop;
             } catch (e) {
                 console.error(`Error accessing property ${String(key)}:`, e);
-                // Return an empty object proxy for error recovery
-                const newObj = {};
-                Reflect.set(target, key, newObj);
-                return createDeepProxy(newObj, instance, propertyKey, triggerPersist);
+                // Return undefined on error - don't auto-vivify as it causes:
+                // 1. Silent data corruption (replaces original value with {})
+                // 2. Infinite proxy recursion leading to heap overflow
+                return undefined;
             }
         },
         set(target, key, newValue) {
@@ -515,6 +515,11 @@ function safeParse(json: string): any {
     });
 }
 
+// Test exports - expose internal functions for unit testing
+export const __test = {
+    createDeepProxy,
+};
+
 /**
  * Helper function to persist a property value to storage.
  */