diff --git a/hbrdd/dbf/dbf.go b/hbrdd/dbf/dbf.go
index 4f9a98a..01b3ebf 100644
--- a/hbrdd/dbf/dbf.go
+++ b/hbrdd/dbf/dbf.go
@@ -42,8 +42,9 @@ type DBFArea struct {
 	dirty   bool   // record buffer modified
 
 	// State
-	recCount uint32
-	ghost    bool // at phantom record (after APPEND)
+	recCount  uint32
+	ghost     bool // at phantom record (after APPEND)
+	recLoaded bool // false = recBuf stale, need loadRecord()
 
 	// Memo file (FPT)
 	memoFile *FPTFile
@@ -358,6 +359,7 @@ func (a *DBFArea) RecCount() (uint32, error) {
 }
 
 func (a *DBFArea) Deleted() bool {
+	a.loadRecord()
 	if len(a.recBuf) > 0 {
 		return a.recBuf[0] == RecordDeleted
 	}
@@ -365,7 +367,7 @@ func (a *DBFArea) Deleted() bool {
 }
 
 // GoTo positions the cursor at a specific record number.
-// Harbour: hb_dbfGoTo in dbf1.c
+// Harbour: hb_dbfGoTo in dbf1.c — lazy read: record loaded on first access.
 func (a *DBFArea) GoTo(recNo uint32) error {
 	if a.dirty {
 		a.flushRecord()
@@ -374,11 +376,10 @@ func (a *DBFArea) GoTo(recNo uint32) error {
 	a.FFound = false
 
 	if recNo == 0 || recNo > a.recCount {
-		// EOF / phantom record
 		a.recNo = a.recCount + 1
 		a.FEof = true
 		a.FBof = (recNo == 0)
-		// Clear buffer
+		a.recLoaded = false
 		for i := range a.recBuf {
 			a.recBuf[i] = ' '
 		}
@@ -387,12 +388,10 @@ func (a *DBFArea) GoTo(recNo uint32) error {
 
 	// Read record from file
 	offset := a.header.RecordOffset(recNo)
-	_, err := a.dataFile.ReadAt(a.recBuf, offset)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("read record %d: %w", recNo, err)
-	}
+	a.dataFile.ReadAt(a.recBuf, offset)
 
 	a.recNo = recNo
+	a.recLoaded = true
 	a.FEof = false
 	a.FBof = false
 	a.dirty = false
@@ -508,9 +507,20 @@ func (a *DBFArea) Skip(count int64) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// loadRecord reads the current record from disk if not already loaded.
+func (a *DBFArea) loadRecord() {
+	if a.recLoaded || a.FEof || a.recNo == 0 || a.recNo > a.recCount {
+		return
+	}
+	offset := a.header.RecordOffset(a.recNo)
+	a.dataFile.ReadAt(a.recBuf, offset)
+	a.recLoaded = true
+}
+
 // --- Field access ---
 
 func (a *DBFArea) GetValue(fieldIndex int) (hbrt.Value, error) {
+	a.loadRecord()
 	if fieldIndex < 0 || fieldIndex >= len(a.fieldDescs) {
 		return hbrt.MakeNil(), fmt.Errorf("field index out of range: %d", fieldIndex)
 	}
@@ -535,6 +545,7 @@ func (a *DBFArea) GetValue(fieldIndex int) (hbrt.Value, error) {
 }
 
 func (a *DBFArea) PutValue(fieldIndex int, val hbrt.Value) error {
+	a.loadRecord()
 	if a.readOnly {
 		return fmt.Errorf("table is read-only")
 	}
@@ -582,8 +593,9 @@ func (a *DBFArea) Append() error {
 
 	a.FEof = false
 	a.FBof = false
-	a.dirty = true // mark dirty — will be written on Flush/Close/GoTo
+	a.dirty = true
 	a.ghost = true
+	a.recLoaded = true // buffer is fresh (all spaces)
 	return nil
 }