diff --git a/PWGLF/TableProducer/Strangeness/hStrangeCorrelationFilter.cxx b/PWGLF/TableProducer/Strangeness/hStrangeCorrelationFilter.cxx
index 7643c9ab979..0f32bc668d0 100644
--- a/PWGLF/TableProducer/Strangeness/hStrangeCorrelationFilter.cxx
+++ b/PWGLF/TableProducer/Strangeness/hStrangeCorrelationFilter.cxx
@@ -451,7 +451,8 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelationFilter {
     if (track.pt() > generalSelections.triggerPtCutMax || track.pt() < generalSelections.triggerPtCutMin) {
       return false;
     }
-    if (track.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+    // hasTPC() is needed: since O2-7038 (Oct 2026) tracks without TPC report 256 crossed rows
+    if (!track.hasTPC() || track.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
       return false; // crossed rows
     }
     if (!track.hasITS() && trackSelections.triggerRequireITS) {
@@ -481,7 +482,7 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelationFilter {
     if (assoc.pt() > generalSelections.assocPtCutMax || assoc.pt() < generalSelections.assocPtCutMin) {
       return false;
     }
-    if (assoc.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+    if (!assoc.hasTPC() || assoc.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
       return false; // crossed rows
     }
     if (!assoc.hasITS() && trackSelections.assocRequireITS) {
@@ -848,10 +849,10 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelationFilter {
       auto posdau = v0.posTrack_as<DauTracks>();
       auto negdau = v0.negTrack_as<DauTracks>();
 
-      if (negdau.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+      if (!negdau.hasTPC() || negdau.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
         continue;
       }
-      if (posdau.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+      if (!posdau.hasTPC() || posdau.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
         continue;
       }
       if (trackSelections.requireClusterInITS && (posdau.itsNCls() < trackSelections.minITSClustersForDaughterTracks || negdau.itsNCls() < trackSelections.minITSClustersForDaughterTracks)) {
@@ -987,10 +988,10 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelationFilter {
       auto posdau = v0.posTrack_as<DauTracksMC>();
       auto negdau = v0.negTrack_as<DauTracksMC>();
 
-      if (negdau.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+      if (!negdau.hasTPC() || negdau.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
         continue;
       }
-      if (posdau.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+      if (!posdau.hasTPC() || posdau.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
         continue;
       }
       if (trackSelections.requireClusterInITS && (posdau.itsNCls() < trackSelections.minITSClustersForDaughterTracks || negdau.itsNCls() < trackSelections.minITSClustersForDaughterTracks)) {
@@ -1145,13 +1146,13 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelationFilter {
       auto negTrackCast = casc.negTrack_as<DauTracks>();
 
       // minimum TPC crossed rows
-      if (bachTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+      if (!bachTrackCast.hasTPC() || bachTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
         continue;
       }
-      if (posTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+      if (!posTrackCast.hasTPC() || posTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
         continue;
       }
-      if (negTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+      if (!negTrackCast.hasTPC() || negTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
         continue;
       }
       if (rejectAmbiguousAssoc && (isAmbiguousTrack(bachTrackCast) || isAmbiguousTrack(posTrackCast) || isAmbiguousTrack(negTrackCast))) {
@@ -1318,13 +1319,13 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelationFilter {
       auto negTrackCast = casc.negTrack_as<DauTracks>();
 
       // minimum TPC crossed rows
-      if (bachTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+      if (!bachTrackCast.hasTPC() || bachTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
         continue;
       }
-      if (posTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+      if (!posTrackCast.hasTPC() || posTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
         continue;
       }
-      if (negTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
+      if (!negTrackCast.hasTPC() || negTrackCast.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelections.minTPCNCrossedRows) {
         continue;
       }
       if (rejectAmbiguousAssoc && (isAmbiguousTrack(bachTrackCast) || isAmbiguousTrack(posTrackCast) || isAmbiguousTrack(negTrackCast))) {
diff --git a/PWGLF/Tasks/Strangeness/hStrangeCorrelation.cxx b/PWGLF/Tasks/Strangeness/hStrangeCorrelation.cxx
index 1e67da5fac5..9d1960bd563 100644
--- a/PWGLF/Tasks/Strangeness/hStrangeCorrelation.cxx
+++ b/PWGLF/Tasks/Strangeness/hStrangeCorrelation.cxx
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
       .eta = track.eta(),
       .phi = track.phi(),
       .sign = track.sign(),
-      .tpcCrossedRows = track.tpcNClsCrossedRows(),
+      .tpcCrossedRows = track.hasTPC() ? static_cast<int>(track.tpcNClsCrossedRows()) : 0, // 0 without TPC, so classifyTriggerTracksFailure rejects it as the filter does
       .tpcSharedClusters = track.tpcNClsShared(),
       .itsClusters = track.itsNCls(),
       .hasLayer0 = static_cast<bool>(TESTBIT(track.itsClusterMap(), 0)),
@@ -1258,7 +1258,8 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
   template <class TTrack>
   bool isValidTrigger(TTrack const& track, bool isLeading)
   {
-    if (track.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsTrigger) {
+    // hasTPC() is needed: since O2-7038 (Oct 2026) tracks without TPC report 256 crossed rows
+    if (!track.hasTPC() || track.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsTrigger) {
       return false; // crossed rows
     }
     if (!track.hasITS() && trackSelection.triggerRequireITS) {
@@ -1298,7 +1299,7 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
   template <class TTrack>
   bool isValidAssocHadron(TTrack const& track)
   {
-    if (track.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
+    if (!track.hasTPC() || track.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
       return false; // crossed rows
     }
     if (!track.hasITS() && trackSelection.assocRequireITS) {
@@ -1584,7 +1585,7 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
         }
 
         //---] track quality check [---
-        if (postrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || negtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
+        if (!postrack.hasTPC() || postrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || !negtrack.hasTPC() || negtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
           continue;
         }
         if (trackSelection.checksRequireTPCChi2 && (postrack.tpcChi2NCl() > trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated || negtrack.tpcChi2NCl() > trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated)) {
@@ -2152,7 +2153,7 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
         }
         std::array<double, 3> assocForDeltaPhiStar = {phiProton, ptProton, signProton};
         //---] track quality check [---
-        if (postrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || negtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || bachtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
+        if (!postrack.hasTPC() || postrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || !negtrack.hasTPC() || negtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || !bachtrack.hasTPC() || bachtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
           continue;
         }
         if (trackSelection.checksRequireTPCChi2 && (postrack.tpcChi2NCl() > trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated || negtrack.tpcChi2NCl() > trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated || bachtrack.tpcChi2NCl() > trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated)) {
@@ -4043,7 +4044,7 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
       //---] track quality check [---
       auto postrack = v0Data.posTrack_as<TracksComplete>();
       auto negtrack = v0Data.negTrack_as<TracksComplete>();
-      if (postrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || negtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
+      if (!postrack.hasTPC() || postrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || !negtrack.hasTPC() || negtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
         continue;
       }
       if (trackSelection.checksRequireTPCChi2 && (postrack.tpcChi2NCl() > trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated || negtrack.tpcChi2NCl() > trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated)) {
@@ -4268,7 +4269,7 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
       auto postrack = cascData.posTrack_as<TracksComplete>();
       auto negtrack = cascData.negTrack_as<TracksComplete>();
       auto bachtrack = cascData.bachelor_as<TracksComplete>();
-      if (postrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || negtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || bachtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
+      if (!postrack.hasTPC() || postrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || !negtrack.hasTPC() || negtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || !bachtrack.hasTPC() || bachtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
         continue;
       }
       if (trackSelection.checksRequireTPCChi2 && (postrack.tpcChi2NCl() > trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated || negtrack.tpcChi2NCl() > trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated || bachtrack.tpcChi2NCl() > trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated)) {
@@ -5377,8 +5378,8 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
           const bool passesDaughterDcaAndArmenteros = std::abs(v0.dcapostopv()) > dcaCut && std::abs(v0.dcanegtopv()) > dcaCut && v0.qtarm() * v0Selection.armPodCut > std::abs(v0.alpha());
           passesFinalSelection = v0SelectedPbPb(v0) && passesLifetime && passesDaughterDcaAndArmenteros;
         }
-        passesFinalSelection = passesFinalSelection && positiveTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated &&
-                               negativeTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated;
+        passesFinalSelection = passesFinalSelection && positiveTrack.hasTPC() && positiveTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated &&
+                               negativeTrack.hasTPC() && negativeTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated;
         if (trackSelection.checksRequireTPCChi2) {
           passesFinalSelection = passesFinalSelection && positiveTrack.tpcChi2NCl() <= trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated &&
                                  negativeTrack.tpcChi2NCl() <= trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated;
@@ -5997,8 +5998,8 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
             const bool passesDaughterDcaAndArmenteros = std::abs(v0.dcapostopv()) > dcaCut && std::abs(v0.dcanegtopv()) > dcaCut && v0.qtarm() * v0Selection.armPodCut > std::abs(v0.alpha());
             passesFinalSelection = v0SelectedPbPb(v0) && passesLifetime && passesDaughterDcaAndArmenteros;
           }
-          passesFinalSelection = passesFinalSelection && positiveTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated &&
-                                 negativeTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated;
+          passesFinalSelection = passesFinalSelection && positiveTrack.hasTPC() && positiveTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated &&
+                                 negativeTrack.hasTPC() && negativeTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated;
           if (trackSelection.checksRequireTPCChi2) {
             passesFinalSelection = passesFinalSelection && positiveTrack.tpcChi2NCl() <= trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated &&
                                    negativeTrack.tpcChi2NCl() <= trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated;
@@ -6536,8 +6537,8 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
                                                         v0.qtarm() * v0Selection.armPodCut > std::abs(v0.alpha());
             passesFinalSelection = v0SelectedPbPb(v0) && passesLifetime && passesDaughterDcaAndArmenteros;
           }
-          passesFinalSelection = passesFinalSelection && positiveTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated &&
-                                 negativeTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated;
+          passesFinalSelection = passesFinalSelection && positiveTrack.hasTPC() && positiveTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated &&
+                                 negativeTrack.hasTPC() && negativeTrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() >= trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated;
           if (trackSelection.checksRequireTPCChi2) {
             passesFinalSelection = passesFinalSelection && positiveTrack.tpcChi2NCl() <= trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated &&
                                    negativeTrack.tpcChi2NCl() <= trackSelection.maxTPCChi2PerClusterAssociated;
@@ -7204,7 +7205,7 @@ struct HStrangeCorrelation {
       //---] track quality check [---
       auto postrack = v0Data.posTrack_as<TracksComplete>();
       auto negtrack = v0Data.negTrack_as<TracksComplete>();
-      if (postrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || negtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
+      if (!postrack.hasTPC() || postrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated || !negtrack.hasTPC() || negtrack.tpcNClsCrossedRows() < trackSelection.minTPCNCrossedRowsAssociated) {
         continue;
       }
       if (trackSelection.requireClusterInITS && (postrack.itsNCls() < trackSelection.minITSClustersForDaughterTracks || negtrack.itsNCls() < trackSelection.minITSClustersForDaughterTracks)) {