An anti-rotation handguard system, including a barrel nut having a barrel nut aperture formed therethrough, along a longitudinal axis of the barrel nut, wherein the barrel nut includes a registration groove defined around the outer periphery of the barrel nut; and an anti-rotation ring having a barrel nut aperture formed therethrough, wherein the anti-rotation ring further comprises a first anti-rotation tab extending from the anti-rotation ring, wherein the first anti-rotation tab is formed so as to be received within a gas tube channel of a handguard, and wherein the anti-rotation ring further comprises a second anti-rotation tab extending from the anti-rotation ring, wherein the second anti-rotation tab is formed so as to be received within at least a portion of a compression/registration slot of the handguard.