diff --git a/crates/engine/src/log/mod.rs b/crates/engine/src/log/mod.rs
index 4a73c8d..dc08089 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/log/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/log/mod.rs
@@ -1882,6 +1882,56 @@ mod value_sep_tests {
             assert_eq!(log.values.blob_count(), 1, "only v2's blob remains");
         });
     }
+
+    /// Crash after VALUE_SEP then inline overwrite: both records are in the
+    /// unsealed active file. Replay must clear the sidecar the same way the
+    /// live write path does, or `sweep_orphans` keeps the large blob and the
+    /// next seal writes the stale hash.
+    #[test]
+    fn crash_after_large_then_small_must_not_leak_blob() {
+        run(async {
+            let dir = TempDir::new().unwrap();
+            let path = dir.path().to_path_buf();
+            let cfg = LogConfig {
+                rotate_threshold: 1 << 30,
+                fanout: 8,
+                value_sep_threshold: 4096,
+            };
+            {
+                let log = NamespaceLog::open(path.clone(), cfg).await.unwrap();
+                let big = vec![0xABu8; 64 * 1024];
+                log.put_full(key(0), &big, &[], None).await.unwrap();
+                log.put_full(key(0), b"inline-after-large", &[], None)
+                    .await
+                    .unwrap();
+                assert_eq!(
+                    log.index.borrow().valsep(b"k00000"),
+                    None,
+                    "live path clears valsep on inline overwrite"
+                );
+                assert_eq!(log.values.blob_count(), 0);
+            }
+
+            let log = NamespaceLog::open(path, cfg).await.unwrap();
+            let entry = *log
+                .index
+                .borrow()
+                .get(b"k00000")
+                .expect("inline key must survive reopen");
+            let (v, _) = log.read_value(entry).await.unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(&v[..], b"inline-after-large");
+            assert_eq!(
+                log.index.borrow().valsep(b"k00000"),
+                None,
+                "replay must clear valsep on inline overwrite"
+            );
+            assert_eq!(
+                log.values.blob_count(),
+                0,
+                "stale VALUE_SEP blob must be swept"
+            );
+        });
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/log/recover.rs b/crates/engine/src/log/recover.rs
index 11a4e75..34425af 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/log/recover.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/log/recover.rs
@@ -276,5 +276,10 @@ fn apply_record(
                 "value-separated record without a 16-byte hash; ignoring sidecar entry"
             );
         }
+    } else {
+        // Match the live write path (`apply_valsep_insert`): an inline
+        // overwrite must drop the previous VALUE_SEP hash so reopen +
+        // sweep_orphans does not resurrect the blob.
+        index.set_valsep(&key_bytes, None);
     }
 }