diff --git a/app/app/api/discovery/route.ts b/app/app/api/discovery/route.ts
index 21ac7bc..b1c409f 100644
--- a/app/app/api/discovery/route.ts
+++ b/app/app/api/discovery/route.ts
@@ -374,19 +374,20 @@ async function searchTopics(args: {
 export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
   try {
     const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
+    
+    // Parse and validate pagination parameters directly
+    const rawPage = Number(searchParams.get("page"));
+    const rawLimit = Number(searchParams.get("limit"));
+    const page = Number.isNaN(rawPage) || rawPage < 1 ? 1 : Math.floor(rawPage);
+    const limit = Number.isNaN(rawLimit) || rawLimit < 1 ? 20 : Math.min(Math.floor(rawLimit), 100);
+
     const query = normalizeQuery(searchParams.get("q"));
-    const page = parseInt(searchParams.get("page") || "1", 10);
-    const limit = parseInt(searchParams.get("limit") || String(DEFAULT_LIMIT), 10);
     const rankBy = (searchParams.get("rankBy") || "relevance") as DiscoveryRankBy;
     const period = searchParams.get("period") || "all-time";
     const postType = searchParams.get("postType");
     const postStatus = searchParams.get("status");
     const requestedTypes = parseRequestedTypes(searchParams.get("types"));
 
-    if (page < 1 || limit < 1 || limit > MAX_LIMIT) {
-      return apiError("Invalid pagination parameters", 400);
-    }
-
     if (!["relevance", "recent", "popular"].includes(rankBy)) {
       return apiError("Invalid ranking option", 400);
     }
@@ -433,7 +434,11 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
     const resultSets = await Promise.all(tasks);
     const combinedResults = rankResults(resultSets.flat(), rankBy);
     const total = combinedResults.length;
-    const paginatedResults = combinedResults.slice((page - 1) * limit, page * limit);
+    
+    // Use sanitized page and limit values
+    const skip = (page - 1) * limit;
+    const paginatedResults = combinedResults.slice(skip, skip + limit);
+    const totalPages = Math.ceil(total / limit);
 
     const counts = combinedResults.reduce(
       (acc, result) => {
@@ -450,7 +455,7 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
         page,
         limit,
         total,
-        totalPages: Math.ceil(total / limit),
+        totalPages,
         hasMore: page * limit < total,
       },
       ranking: {
@@ -460,7 +465,7 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
       counts,
     });
   } catch (error) {
-    console.error("Discovery API error:", error);
+    console.error("[discovery] route error:", error);
     return apiError("Failed to fetch discovery results", 500);
   }
 }
diff --git a/app/app/api/leaderboard/route.ts b/app/app/api/leaderboard/route.ts
index 9e11c74..d1d76ee 100644
--- a/app/app/api/leaderboard/route.ts
+++ b/app/app/api/leaderboard/route.ts
@@ -2,18 +2,21 @@ import { apiError, apiSuccess } from '@/lib/api-response';
 
 import { NextRequest } from 'next/server';
 import { prisma } from '@/lib/prisma';
+import { parsePaginationParam } from '@/lib/validation';
 
 export async function GET (request: NextRequest) {
   try {
     const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
     const period = searchParams.get('period') || 'all-time';
-    const page = parseInt(searchParams.get('page') || '1');
-    const limit = parseInt(searchParams.get('limit') || '50');
-
-    // Validate pagination parameters
-    if (page < 1 || limit < 1 || limit > 100) {
-      return apiError('Invalid pagination parameters', 400);
-    }
+    const page = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get('page'), {
+      defaultValue: 1,
+      min: 1,
+    });
+    const limit = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get('limit'), {
+      defaultValue: 50,
+      min: 1,
+      max: 100,
+    });
 
     let dateFilter: Date | undefined;
     if (period === 'weekly') {
diff --git a/app/app/api/notifications/route.ts b/app/app/api/notifications/route.ts
index 7c35781..258e4f1 100644
--- a/app/app/api/notifications/route.ts
+++ b/app/app/api/notifications/route.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { NextRequest, NextResponse } from "next/server";
 import { getCurrentUser } from "@/lib/auth";
+import { parsePaginationParam } from "@/lib/validation";
 import {
   getPaginatedNotifications,
   markAllAsRead,
@@ -16,8 +17,15 @@ export async function GET(req: NextRequest) {
 
   const { searchParams } = new URL(req.url);
   const isRead = searchParams.get("isRead");
-  const page = Number.parseInt(searchParams.get("page") || "1", 10);
-  const pageSize = Number.parseInt(searchParams.get("pageSize") || "20", 10);
+  const page = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get("page"), {
+    defaultValue: 1,
+    min: 1,
+  });
+  const pageSize = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get("pageSize"), {
+    defaultValue: 20,
+    min: 1,
+    max: 100,
+  });
 
   const result = await getPaginatedNotifications({
     userId: currentUser.id,
diff --git a/app/app/api/posts/[id]/comments/route.ts b/app/app/api/posts/[id]/comments/route.ts
index 514fff1..0dc76ba 100644
--- a/app/app/api/posts/[id]/comments/route.ts
+++ b/app/app/api/posts/[id]/comments/route.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { apiSuccess, apiError } from "@/lib/api-response";
 import { getCurrentUser } from "@/lib/auth";
 import { readJsonBody } from "@/lib/parse-json-body";
 import { createNotification } from "@/lib/notifications";
+import { parsePaginationParam } from "@/lib/validation";
 
 export async function GET(
   request: NextRequest,
@@ -12,8 +13,15 @@ export async function GET(
   try {
     const { id } = await params;
     const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
-    const page = parseInt(searchParams.get("page") || "1");
-    const limit = parseInt(searchParams.get("limit") || "50");
+    const page = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get("page"), {
+      defaultValue: 1,
+      min: 1,
+    });
+    const limit = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get("limit"), {
+      defaultValue: 50,
+      min: 1,
+      max: 100,
+    });
     const skip = (page - 1) * limit;
 
     const [comments, total] = await Promise.all([
diff --git a/app/app/api/posts/[id]/entries/route.ts b/app/app/api/posts/[id]/entries/route.ts
index 0af1d07..2cd1a11 100644
--- a/app/app/api/posts/[id]/entries/route.ts
+++ b/app/app/api/posts/[id]/entries/route.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { getCurrentUser } from "@/lib/auth";
 import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
 import { readJsonBody } from "@/lib/parse-json-body";
 import { checkAndAwardBadges } from "@/lib/badges";
+import { parsePaginationParam } from "@/lib/validation";
 import {
   createNotificationInTransaction,
   fanOutNotificationsInTransaction,
@@ -303,15 +304,17 @@ export async function GET(
     const { id: postId } = await params;
     const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
 
-    const page = parseInt(searchParams.get("page") || "1");
-    const limit = parseInt(searchParams.get("limit") || "10");
+    const page = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get("page"), {
+      defaultValue: 1,
+      min: 1,
+    });
+    const limit = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get("limit"), {
+      defaultValue: 10,
+      min: 1,
+      max: 100,
+    });
     const skip = (page - 1) * limit;
 
-    // Validate pagination params
-    if (page < 1 || limit < 1 || limit > 100) {
-      return apiError("Invalid pagination parameters", 400);
-    }
-
     // Check if post exists
     const post = await prisma.post.findUnique({
       where: { id: postId },
diff --git a/app/app/api/posts/route.ts b/app/app/api/posts/route.ts
index 5a69f04..18fb89d 100644
--- a/app/app/api/posts/route.ts
+++ b/app/app/api/posts/route.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
 import { readJsonBody } from "@/lib/parse-json-body";
 import { POST_SLUG_MAX_LENGTH, sanitizePostSlug } from "@/lib/post-slug";
 import { checkAndAwardBadges } from "@/lib/badges";
+import { parsePaginationParam } from "@/lib/validation";
 
 const SLUG_SUFFIX_LENGTH = 6;
 
@@ -215,8 +216,15 @@ const GET = async (request: NextRequest) => {
     const status = searchParams.get("status");
     const from = searchParams.get("from");
     const to = searchParams.get("to");
-    const page = parseInt(searchParams.get("page") || "1");
-    const limit = parseInt(searchParams.get("limit") || "10");
+    const page = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get("page"), {
+      defaultValue: 1,
+      min: 1,
+    });
+    const limit = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get("limit"), {
+      defaultValue: 10,
+      min: 1,
+      max: 100,
+    });
 
     const where: Prisma.PostWhereInput = {};
     where.moderationStatus = { notIn: ["suspended", "banned"] };
diff --git a/app/app/api/users/[id]/followers/route.ts b/app/app/api/users/[id]/followers/route.ts
index 6ca4d0f..2db67a3 100644
--- a/app/app/api/users/[id]/followers/route.ts
+++ b/app/app/api/users/[id]/followers/route.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { NextRequest } from 'next/server';
 import { prisma } from '@/lib/prisma';
 import { apiSuccess, apiError } from '@/lib/api-response';
+import { parsePaginationParam } from '@/lib/validation';
 
 export async function GET(
   request: NextRequest,
@@ -9,8 +10,15 @@ export async function GET(
   try {
     const { id: targetUserId } = await params;
     const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
-    const limit = parseInt(searchParams.get('limit') || '20');
-    const skip = parseInt(searchParams.get('skip') || '0');
+    const limit = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get('limit'), {
+      defaultValue: 20,
+      min: 1,
+      max: 100,
+    });
+    const skip = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get('skip'), {
+      defaultValue: 0,
+      min: 0,
+    });
 
     // Followers are users who follow the target user
     // i.e., followingId = targetUserId
diff --git a/app/app/api/users/[id]/following/route.ts b/app/app/api/users/[id]/following/route.ts
index 8e60fe2..430ca34 100644
--- a/app/app/api/users/[id]/following/route.ts
+++ b/app/app/api/users/[id]/following/route.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { NextRequest } from 'next/server';
 import { prisma } from '@/lib/prisma';
 import { apiSuccess, apiError } from '@/lib/api-response';
+import { parsePaginationParam } from '@/lib/validation';
 
 export async function GET(
   request: NextRequest,
@@ -9,8 +10,15 @@ export async function GET(
   try {
     const { id: targetUserId } = await params;
     const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
-    const limit = parseInt(searchParams.get('limit') || '20');
-    const skip = parseInt(searchParams.get('skip') || '0');
+    const limit = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get('limit'), {
+      defaultValue: 20,
+      min: 1,
+      max: 100,
+    });
+    const skip = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get('skip'), {
+      defaultValue: 0,
+      min: 0,
+    });
 
     // Following are users the target user follows
     // i.e., userId = targetUserId, followingId != null
diff --git a/app/app/api/wallet/transactions/route.ts b/app/app/api/wallet/transactions/route.ts
index 535975b..a19fadc 100644
--- a/app/app/api/wallet/transactions/route.ts
+++ b/app/app/api/wallet/transactions/route.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { apiError, apiSuccess } from "@/lib/api-response";
 import { getCurrentUser } from "@/lib/auth";
 import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
 import { getLiveTransactions } from "@/lib/stellar";
+import { parsePaginationParam } from "@/lib/validation";
 
 /**
  * GET /api/wallet/transactions
@@ -20,11 +21,15 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest) {
     if (!currentUser) return apiError("Unauthorized", 401);
 
     const { searchParams } = new URL(request.url);
-    const page = Math.max(1, parseInt(searchParams.get("page") ?? "1", 10));
-    const limit = Math.min(
-      50,
-      Math.max(1, parseInt(searchParams.get("limit") ?? "20", 10)),
-    );
+    const page = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get("page"), {
+      defaultValue: 1,
+      min: 1,
+    });
+    const limit = parsePaginationParam(searchParams.get("limit"), {
+      defaultValue: 20,
+      min: 1,
+      max: 50,
+    });
     const skip = (page - 1) * limit;
 
     const [transactions, total, user] = await Promise.all([
diff --git a/app/lib/validation.ts b/app/lib/validation.ts
index d5c1102..e2cb308 100644
--- a/app/lib/validation.ts
+++ b/app/lib/validation.ts
@@ -108,3 +108,52 @@ export const validateTargetAmount = (amount: number | string): ValidationResult
   }
   return { isValid: true };
 };
+
+/**
+ * Safely parse pagination parameters from query strings.
+ * Returns default values if parsing fails or values are invalid.
+ * @param value The query parameter value
+ * @param defaultValue The default value if parsing fails (default: based on param type)
+ * @param min Minimum allowed value (default: 0 for skip, 1 for page, 1 for limit)
+ * @param max Maximum allowed value (optional)
+ * @returns The parsed integer or default value
+ */
+export const parsePaginationParam = (
+  value: string | null,
+  options?: {
+    defaultValue?: number;
+    min?: number;
+    max?: number;
+  }
+): number => {
+  const defaultValue = options?.defaultValue ?? 1;
+  const min = options?.min ?? 1;
+  const max = options?.max;
+
+  // If no value provided, return default
+  if (!value) {
+    return defaultValue;
+  }
+
+  // Try to parse as number
+  const rawParsed = Number(value);
+
+  // Check if parsing failed (result is NaN)
+  if (Number.isNaN(rawParsed)) {
+    return defaultValue;
+  }
+
+  // Floor to integer
+  const parsed = Math.floor(rawParsed);
+
+  // Check bounds
+  if (parsed < min) {
+    return defaultValue;
+  }
+
+  if (max !== undefined && parsed > max) {
+    return max;
+  }
+
+  return parsed;
+};
diff --git a/app/tests/api/discovery.test.ts b/app/tests/api/discovery.test.ts
index e62764c..6f1d3e5 100644
--- a/app/tests/api/discovery.test.ts
+++ b/app/tests/api/discovery.test.ts
@@ -234,7 +234,22 @@ describe("Discovery API", () => {
     const response = await GET(request);
     const { status, data } = await parseResponse(response);
 
+    // rankBy=unknown should return 400, but pagination params now default gracefully
     expect(status).toBe(400);
     expect(data.success).toBe(false);
   });
+
+  it("handles invalid pagination parameters gracefully", async () => {
+    const request = createMockRequest(
+      "http://localhost:3000/api/discovery?q=test&page=abc&limit=xyz",
+    );
+    const response = await GET(request);
+    const { status, data } = await parseResponse(response);
+
+    expect(status).toBe(200);
+    expect(data.success).toBe(true);
+    expect(data.data.pagination.page).toBe(1);
+    expect(data.data.pagination.limit).toBe(10);
+  });
+
 });
diff --git a/app/tests/api/entries.test.ts b/app/tests/api/entries.test.ts
index 3426a2d..62c7887 100644
--- a/app/tests/api/entries.test.ts
+++ b/app/tests/api/entries.test.ts
@@ -723,9 +723,14 @@ describe('Entry API Endpoints', () => {
       });
     });
 
-    it('should reject invalid pagination parameters', async () => {
+    it('should handle invalid pagination parameters gracefully by using defaults', async () => {
+      const mockEntries = [];
+      prisma.post.findUnique = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(post);
+      prisma.entry.findMany = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(mockEntries);
+      prisma.entry.count = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(0);
+
       const request = createMockRequest(
-        `http://localhost:3000/api/posts/${post.id}/entries?page=0&limit=-1`,
+        `http://localhost:3000/api/posts/${post.id}/entries?page=abc&limit=xyz`,
       );
 
       const response = await GetEntries(request, {
@@ -733,12 +738,18 @@ describe('Entry API Endpoints', () => {
       });
       const { status, data } = await parseResponse(response);
 
-      expect(status).toBe(400);
-      expect(data.success).toBe(false);
-      expect(data.error).toBe('Invalid pagination parameters');
+      expect(status).toBe(200);
+      expect(data.success).toBe(true);
+      expect(data.data.pagination.page).toBe(1);
+      expect(data.data.pagination.limit).toBe(10);
     });
 
-    it('should reject limit greater than 100', async () => {
+    it('should cap limit at 100', async () => {
+      const mockEntries = [];
+      prisma.post.findUnique = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(post);
+      prisma.entry.findMany = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(mockEntries);
+      prisma.entry.count = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(0);
+
       const request = createMockRequest(
         `http://localhost:3000/api/posts/${post.id}/entries?limit=101`,
       );
@@ -748,9 +759,9 @@ describe('Entry API Endpoints', () => {
       });
       const { status, data } = await parseResponse(response);
 
-      expect(status).toBe(400);
-      expect(data.success).toBe(false);
-      expect(data.error).toBe('Invalid pagination parameters');
+      expect(status).toBe(200);
+      expect(data.success).toBe(true);
+      expect(data.data.pagination.limit).toBe(100);
     });
 
     it('should return 404 for non-existent post', async () => {