diff --git a/db.go b/db.go
index dfa14f10d6..a616d88743 100644
--- a/db.go
+++ b/db.go
@@ -2489,3 +2489,31 @@ func (d *DB) SetCreatorID(creatorID uint64) error {
 func (d *DB) ObjProvider() objstorage.Provider {
 	return d.objProvider
 }
+
+func (d *DB) checkVirtualBounds(m *fileMetadata) {
+	if !invariants.Enabled {
+		return
+	}
+
+	it, _, err := d.newIters(context.TODO(), m, nil, internalIterOpts{})
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("pebble: error creating iterator :%s", err.Error()))
+	}
+
+	// Check that virtual sstable bounds are tight from both ends.
+	first, _ := it.First()
+	if d.cmp(first.UserKey, m.Smallest.UserKey) != 0 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("pebble: virtual sstable %s lower bound is not tight: %s != %s", m.FileNum, m.Smallest.UserKey, first.UserKey))
+	}
+	last, _ := it.Last()
+	if d.cmp(last.UserKey, m.Largest.UserKey) != 0 {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("pebble: virtual sstable %s upper bound is not tight: %s != %s", m.FileNum, m.Largest.UserKey, last.UserKey))
+	}
+
+	// Check that iterator keys are within bounds.
+	for key, _ := it.First(); key != nil; key, _ = it.Next() {
+		if d.cmp(key.UserKey, m.Smallest.UserKey) < 0 || d.cmp(key.UserKey, m.Largest.UserKey) > 0 {
+			panic("pebble: virtual sstable key is not within bounds")
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/ingest.go b/ingest.go
index e8f614b877..09de7967d3 100644
--- a/ingest.go
+++ b/ingest.go
@@ -1409,6 +1409,9 @@ func (d *DB) excise(
 			SmallestSeqNum: m.SmallestSeqNum,
 			LargestSeqNum:  m.LargestSeqNum,
 		}
+		leftFile.ValidateVirtual(m)
+		d.checkVirtualBounds(leftFile)
+
 		if m.HasPointKeys && !exciseSpan.Contains(d.cmp, m.SmallestPointKey) {
 			// This file will contain point keys
 			smallestPointKey := m.SmallestPointKey
@@ -1511,6 +1514,8 @@ func (d *DB) excise(
 		SmallestSeqNum: m.SmallestSeqNum,
 		LargestSeqNum:  m.LargestSeqNum,
 	}
+	rightFile.ValidateVirtual(m)
+	d.checkVirtualBounds(rightFile)
 	if m.HasPointKeys && !exciseSpan.Contains(d.cmp, m.LargestPointKey) {
 		// This file will contain point keys
 		largestPointKey := m.LargestPointKey
diff --git a/table_cache_test.go b/table_cache_test.go
index 5efca158e6..bf90f3cfc2 100644
--- a/table_cache_test.go
+++ b/table_cache_test.go
@@ -324,7 +324,9 @@ func TestVirtualReadsWiring(t *testing.T) {
 	v2.SmallestPointKey = v2.Smallest
 
 	v1.ValidateVirtual(parentFile)
+	d.checkVirtualBounds(v1)
 	v2.ValidateVirtual(parentFile)
+	d.checkVirtualBounds(v2)
 
 	// Write the version edit.
 	fileMetrics := func(ve *versionEdit) map[int]*LevelMetrics {
diff --git a/version_set_test.go b/version_set_test.go
index 3bf2b929df..beedc1b7fe 100644
--- a/version_set_test.go
+++ b/version_set_test.go
@@ -100,7 +100,9 @@ func TestLatestRefCounting(t *testing.T) {
 	m2.SmallestPointKey = m2.Smallest
 
 	m1.ValidateVirtual(f)
+	d.checkVirtualBounds(m1)
 	m2.ValidateVirtual(f)
+	d.checkVirtualBounds(m2)
 
 	fileMetrics := func(ve *versionEdit) map[int]*LevelMetrics {
 		metrics := newFileMetrics(ve.NewFiles)
@@ -282,7 +284,9 @@ func TestVirtualSSTableManifestReplay(t *testing.T) {
 	m2.Stats.NumEntries = 1
 
 	m1.ValidateVirtual(f)
+	d.checkVirtualBounds(m1)
 	m2.ValidateVirtual(f)
+	d.checkVirtualBounds(m2)
 
 	fileMetrics := func(ve *versionEdit) map[int]*LevelMetrics {
 		metrics := newFileMetrics(ve.NewFiles)