diff --git a/mutation_query.cc b/mutation_query.cc
index bb2e293c8d..e1bdf05b88 100644
--- a/mutation_query.cc
+++ b/mutation_query.cc
@@ -42,6 +42,15 @@ reconcilable_result::operator==(const reconcilable_result& other) const {
     return boost::equal(_partitions, other._partitions);
 }
 
+void
+reconcilable_result::merge_disjoint(schema_ptr schema, const reconcilable_result& other) {
+    std::copy(other._partitions.begin(), other._partitions.end(), std::back_inserter(_partitions));
+    _short_read = _short_read || other._short_read;
+    uint64_t row_count = this->row_count() + other.row_count();
+    _row_count_low_bits = static_cast<uint32_t>(row_count);
+    _row_count_high_bits = static_cast<uint32_t>(row_count >> 32);
+}
+
 auto fmt::formatter<reconcilable_result::printer>::format(
     const reconcilable_result::printer& pr,
     fmt::format_context& ctx) const -> decltype(ctx.out()) {
diff --git a/mutation_query.hh b/mutation_query.hh
index df77817a05..87ef2697dd 100644
--- a/mutation_query.hh
+++ b/mutation_query.hh
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ public:
 
     bool operator==(const reconcilable_result& other) const;
 
+    // other must be disjoint with this
+    // does not merge or update memory trackers
+    void merge_disjoint(schema_ptr schema, const reconcilable_result& other);
+
     struct printer {
         const reconcilable_result& self;
         schema_ptr schema;