diff --git a/dateparser/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/github/alox1d/dateparser/internal/EnglishGrammar.kt b/dateparser/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/github/alox1d/dateparser/internal/EnglishGrammar.kt
index 59b0d38..3dc140c 100644
--- a/dateparser/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/github/alox1d/dateparser/internal/EnglishGrammar.kt
+++ b/dateparser/src/commonMain/kotlin/io/github/alox1d/dateparser/internal/EnglishGrammar.kt
@@ -127,7 +127,12 @@ internal object EnglishGrammar {
                 first == second && first in 1..12 -> DateOrder.DMY
                 else -> null
             }
-            when (order) {
+            // An abbreviated year such as 26 must not silently become AD 26.
+            val explicitYear = if (order == DateOrder.YMD) m.groupValues[1] else third
+            if (explicitYear.isNotEmpty() && explicitYear.length != 4) {
+                rejected = true
+                REJECTED
+            } else when (order) {
                 DateOrder.DMY -> date(m.groupValues[1], second, third)
                 DateOrder.MDY -> date(m.groupValues[2], first, third)
                 DateOrder.YMD -> if (third.isEmpty()) { rejected = true; REJECTED } else date(third, second, m.groupValues[1])
diff --git a/dateparser/src/commonTest/kotlin/io/github/alox1d/dateparser/EnglishGrammarTest.kt b/dateparser/src/commonTest/kotlin/io/github/alox1d/dateparser/EnglishGrammarTest.kt
index ca83164..b71c3e5 100644
--- a/dateparser/src/commonTest/kotlin/io/github/alox1d/dateparser/EnglishGrammarTest.kt
+++ b/dateparser/src/commonTest/kotlin/io/github/alox1d/dateparser/EnglishGrammarTest.kt
@@ -39,6 +39,18 @@ class EnglishGrammarTest {
         assertTrue(parse("03/04").isEmpty())
         assertEquals(LocalDate(2026,4,3), parse("03.04.2026",DateOrder.MDY).single().targetDate.date)
     }
+    @Test fun shortSlashYearsCannotSilentlyBecomeAncientDates() {
+        val parser = DateParser()
+        for (text in listOf("13/04/26", "04/13/26")) {
+            assertTrue(parser.parse(text, reference, TimeZone.UTC).isEmpty(), text)
+        }
+        assertTrue(parser.parse("13/04/26", DateOrder.DMY, reference, TimeZone.UTC).isEmpty())
+        assertTrue(parser.parse("04/13/26", DateOrder.MDY, reference, TimeZone.UTC).isEmpty())
+        assertTrue(parser.parse("26/04/13", DateOrder.YMD, reference, TimeZone.UTC).isEmpty())
+        assertEquals(LocalDate(2026, 4, 13), parser.parse("13/04/2026", reference, TimeZone.UTC).single().targetDate.date)
+        assertEquals(LocalDate(2026, 4, 13), parser.parse("2026/04/13", DateOrder.YMD, reference, TimeZone.UTC).single().targetDate.date)
+        assertEquals(LocalDate(2024, 4, 13), parser.parse("13/04", reference, TimeZone.UTC).single().targetDate.date)
+    }
     @Test fun invalidDateAndClockTokensNeverBecomePartialMatches() {
         for (text in listOf("February 30, 2026", "29 February 2025", "31 April", "February 29, 0000", "13pm", "0AM", "5:60PM", "12:10:60am", "2026-02-30", "31/04/2026", "03/04/2026 at 5pm", "tomorrow at 13pm", "tomorrow at 1:2:3:4pm", "March 12, 10000", "tomorrow at 999999999999999999999pm", "01/02/03/04", "2026-02-29")) {
             assertTrue(parse(text).isEmpty(), text)