diff --git a/db/virtual_table.cc b/db/virtual_table.cc
index 782ca7e416..f4f9e90dda 100644
--- a/db/virtual_table.cc
+++ b/db/virtual_table.cc
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "db/virtual_table.hh"
+#include "db/chained_delegating_reader.hh"
 
 namespace db {
 
@@ -61,4 +62,48 @@ bool virtual_table::contains_key(const dht::partition_range& pr, const dht::deco
     return pr.contains(dk, dht::ring_position_comparator(*_s));
 }
 
+mutation_source memtable_filling_virtual_table::as_mutation_source() {
+    return mutation_source([this] (schema_ptr s,
+        reader_permit permit,
+        const dht::partition_range& range,
+        const query::partition_slice& slice,
+        const io_priority_class& pc,
+        tracing::trace_state_ptr trace_state,
+        streamed_mutation::forwarding fwd,
+        mutation_reader::forwarding fwd_mr) {
+
+        struct my_units {
+            reader_permit::resource_units units;
+            uint64_t memory_used;
+
+            my_units(reader_permit::resource_units&& units) : units(std::move(units)), memory_used(0) {}
+        };
+
+        auto units = make_lw_shared<my_units>(permit.consume_memory(0));
+
+        auto populate = [this, mt = make_lw_shared<memtable>(schema()), s, units, range, slice, pc, trace_state, fwd, fwd_mr] (db::timeout_clock::time_point timeout) mutable {
+            auto mutation_sink = [units, mt] (mutation m) mutable {
+                mt->apply(m);
+                units->units.add(units->units.permit().consume_memory(mt->occupancy().used_space() - units->memory_used));
+                units->memory_used = mt->occupancy().used_space();
+            };
+
+            return execute(mutation_sink, timeout).then([this, mt, s, units, &range, &slice, &pc, &trace_state, &fwd, &fwd_mr] () {
+                auto rd = make_restricted_flat_reader(mt->as_data_source(), s, units->units.permit(), range, slice, pc, trace_state, fwd, fwd_mr);
+
+                if (!_shard_aware) {
+                    rd = make_filtering_reader(std::move(rd), [this] (const dht::decorated_key& dk) -> bool {
+                        return this_shard_owns(dk);
+                    });
+                }
+
+                return std::move(rd);
+            });
+        };
+
+        // populate keeps the memtable alive.
+        return make_flat_mutation_reader<chained_delegating_reader>(s, std::move(populate), units->units.permit());
+    });
+}
+
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/db/virtual_table.hh b/db/virtual_table.hh
index 93de444660..1f685c372c 100644
--- a/db/virtual_table.hh
+++ b/db/virtual_table.hh
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "mutation_reader.hh"
+#include "memtable.hh"
 #include "schema.hh"
 #include "database_fwd.hh"
 
@@ -55,4 +56,16 @@ public:
     void set_database(database& db) { _db = &db; }
 };
 
+// Produces results by filling a memtable on each read.
+// Use when the amount of data is not significant relative to shard's memory size.
+class memtable_filling_virtual_table : public virtual_table {
+public:
+    using virtual_table::virtual_table;
+
+    virtual future<> execute(std::function<void(mutation)> mutation_sink, db::timeout_clock::time_point timeout) { return make_ready_future<>(); }
+
+    mutation_source as_mutation_source() override;
+};
+
+
 }