diff --git a/test/s3tables/table-buckets/verify_object_test.go b/test/s3tables/table-buckets/verify_object_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cf8bd2394d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/s3tables/table-buckets/verify_object_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+package s3tables
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/config"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/credentials"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go-v2/service/s3"
+	"github.com/aws/smithy-go"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func newObjectClient(t *testing.T) *s3.Client {
+	t.Helper()
+	cfg, err := config.LoadDefaultConfig(context.Background(),
+		config.WithRegion(testRegion),
+		config.WithCredentialsProvider(credentials.NewStaticCredentialsProvider(testAccessKey, testSecretKey, "")),
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	return s3.NewFromConfig(cfg, func(o *s3.Options) {
+		o.BaseEndpoint = aws.String(sharedCluster.s3Endpoint)
+		o.UsePathStyle = true
+	})
+}
+
+func apiErrorCode(err error) string {
+	var apiErr smithy.APIError
+	if errors.As(err, &apiErr) {
+		return apiErr.ErrorCode()
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+// The external-volume verification object round-trips at a table bucket's
+// root the way the check uses it: PUT, HEAD, GET, list, DELETE. Any other key
+// at the root is still refused.
+func TestTableBucketExternalVolumeVerificationRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
+	if testing.Short() {
+		t.Skip("Skipping integration test in short mode")
+	}
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	tables := NewS3TablesClient(sharedCluster.s3Endpoint, testRegion, testAccessKey, testSecretKey)
+	bucket := "verify-" + randomString(8)
+	created, err := tables.CreateTableBucket(bucket, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer tables.DeleteTableBucket(created.ARN)
+	client := newObjectClient(t)
+
+	body := []byte("verification payload!") // 21 bytes
+	key := fmt.Sprintf("verify_%d_%d", time.Now().UnixMilli(), 1081846483)
+
+	// the control: an ordinary key at the root is refused
+	_, err = client.PutObject(ctx, &s3.PutObjectInput{Bucket: aws.String(bucket), Key: aws.String("notes.parquet"), Body: bytes.NewReader(body)})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, "AccessDenied", apiErrorCode(err))
+
+	_, err = client.PutObject(ctx, &s3.PutObjectInput{Bucket: aws.String(bucket), Key: aws.String(key), Body: bytes.NewReader(body), ContentLength: aws.Int64(int64(len(body)))})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	head, err := client.HeadObject(ctx, &s3.HeadObjectInput{Bucket: aws.String(bucket), Key: aws.String(key)})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(len(body)), aws.ToInt64(head.ContentLength))
+
+	got, err := client.GetObject(ctx, &s3.GetObjectInput{Bucket: aws.String(bucket), Key: aws.String(key)})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	data, err := io.ReadAll(got.Body)
+	got.Body.Close()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, body, data)
+
+	list, err := client.ListObjectsV2(ctx, &s3.ListObjectsV2Input{Bucket: aws.String(bucket), Prefix: aws.String("verify_")})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	var keys []string
+	for _, o := range list.Contents {
+		keys = append(keys, aws.ToString(o.Key))
+	}
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{key}, keys)
+
+	_, err = client.DeleteObject(ctx, &s3.DeleteObjectInput{Bucket: aws.String(bucket), Key: aws.String(key)})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	_, err = client.HeadObject(ctx, &s3.HeadObjectInput{Bucket: aws.String(bucket), Key: aws.String(key)})
+	require.Error(t, err, "the verification object must be gone after DELETE")
+}
+
+// A namespace can carry a name of the verification key's shape. The key
+// then names the namespace's directory: a PUT or DELETE through it must not
+// replace or remove the namespace.
+func TestTableBucketVerificationKeyLeavesNamespaceAlone(t *testing.T) {
+	if testing.Short() {
+		t.Skip("Skipping integration test in short mode")
+	}
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	tables := NewS3TablesClient(sharedCluster.s3Endpoint, testRegion, testAccessKey, testSecretKey)
+	bucket := "verify-ns-" + randomString(8)
+	created, err := tables.CreateTableBucket(bucket, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer tables.DeleteTableBucket(created.ARN)
+	client := newObjectClient(t)
+	body := []byte("verification payload!")
+
+	listed := func(name string) bool {
+		resp, err := tables.ListNamespaces(created.ARN, "", "", 0)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		for _, ns := range resp.Namespaces {
+			if len(ns.Namespace) == 1 && ns.Namespace[0] == name {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+	for i, op := range []string{"PUT", "DELETE"} {
+		t.Run(op, func(t *testing.T) {
+			name := fmt.Sprintf("verify_%d_%d", time.Now().UnixMilli(), 7+i)
+			_, err := tables.CreateNamespace(created.ARN, []string{name})
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer tables.DeleteNamespace(created.ARN, []string{name})
+			require.True(t, listed(name), "setup: the namespace is listed")
+
+			if op == "PUT" {
+				_, err = client.PutObject(ctx, &s3.PutObjectInput{Bucket: aws.String(bucket), Key: aws.String(name), Body: bytes.NewReader(body), ContentLength: aws.Int64(int64(len(body)))})
+				assert.Error(t, err, "a PUT over a namespace must be refused")
+			} else {
+				_, err = client.DeleteObject(ctx, &s3.DeleteObjectInput{Bucket: aws.String(bucket), Key: aws.String(name)})
+				assert.Error(t, err, "a DELETE of a namespace must be refused")
+			}
+			_, err = tables.GetNamespace(created.ARN, []string{name})
+			assert.NoError(t, err, "the namespace survives the %s", op)
+			assert.True(t, listed(name), "the namespace is still listed after the %s", op)
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/weed/s3api/bucket_paths.go b/weed/s3api/bucket_paths.go
index c143e213ea..2d70a03826 100644
--- a/weed/s3api/bucket_paths.go
+++ b/weed/s3api/bucket_paths.go
@@ -2,8 +2,12 @@ package s3api
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"net/http"
 	"path"
+	"regexp"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/glog"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/filer_pb"
@@ -83,6 +87,117 @@ func (s3a *S3ApiServer) validateTableBucketObjectPath(bucket, object string) err
 	return nil
 }
 
+// volumeVerifyKey matches the object Snowflake writes, reads, lists and
+// deletes at the base of an S3-compatible external volume before it creates
+// or writes Iceberg tables there (SYSTEM$VERIFY_EXTERNAL_VOLUME, also run
+// implicitly): <base>/verify_<epoch milliseconds>_<number>, a 21-byte body.
+// A table bucket refuses every key outside the Iceberg layout, so without
+// this exception Snowflake cannot use a table bucket as an external volume.
+//
+// The exception is narrow so that it cannot be used to store data:
+//   - only at the bucket root: nothing can be encoded in a prefix, written
+//     into a hidden tree or take a namespace or table name;
+//   - one shape: 13 digits of epoch milliseconds, then 1-10 digits;
+//   - never a directory: a namespace may carry a name of that shape, and the
+//     key then names its directory (volumeVerifyKeyIsDirectory);
+//   - a PUT must be dated within volumeVerifyWindow of the server's clock,
+//     declare a Content-Length of at most volumeVerifyMaxBytes (no chunked or
+//     undeclared body), and carry no user metadata, tagging, stored content
+//     headers or extraction request (volumeVerifyPutAllowed). Reads and
+//     deletes take a key of any date, so an object a check left behind can
+//     still be removed.
+//
+// Only the calls the check makes (PUT, GET, HEAD, DELETE, DeleteObjects)
+// accept the key; multipart, copy, rename, ACL, tagging and POST policy keep
+// the plain layout rule.
+var volumeVerifyKey = regexp.MustCompile(`^verify_([0-9]{13})_[0-9]{1,10}$`)
+
+const (
+	volumeVerifyMaxBytes = 1024
+	volumeVerifyWindow   = time.Hour
+)
+
+// volumeVerifyNow is the clock a PUT's key is checked against.
+var volumeVerifyNow = time.Now
+
+// volumeVerifyKeyTime is the time a verification key is dated, and whether
+// the object has the key's shape.
+func volumeVerifyKeyTime(object string) (time.Time, bool) {
+	m := volumeVerifyKey.FindStringSubmatch(strings.TrimPrefix(object, "/"))
+	if m == nil {
+		return time.Time{}, false
+	}
+	ms, err := strconv.ParseInt(m[1], 10, 64)
+	if err != nil {
+		return time.Time{}, false
+	}
+	return time.UnixMilli(ms), true
+}
+
+func isVolumeVerifyKey(object string) bool {
+	_, ok := volumeVerifyKeyTime(object)
+	return ok
+}
+
+// volumeVerifyLookup reads the entry a verification key names.
+var volumeVerifyLookup = func(s3a *S3ApiServer, dir, name string) (*filer_pb.Entry, error) {
+	return s3a.getEntry(dir, name)
+}
+
+// volumeVerifyKeyIsDirectory reports whether the key names a directory (a
+// namespace), or whether that cannot be known.
+func (s3a *S3ApiServer) volumeVerifyKeyIsDirectory(bucket, object string) bool {
+	entry, err := volumeVerifyLookup(s3a, s3a.bucketDir(bucket), strings.TrimPrefix(object, "/"))
+	if err != nil {
+		return !errors.Is(err, filer_pb.ErrNotFound)
+	}
+	return entry != nil && entry.IsDirectory
+}
+
+// validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify is validateTableBucketObjectPath that
+// also accepts the external-volume verification key, and reports it so the
+// PUT handler can apply its limits.
+func (s3a *S3ApiServer) validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(bucket, object string) (isVerify bool, err error) {
+	if !s3a.isTableBucket(bucket) {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	if isVolumeVerifyKey(object) && !s3a.volumeVerifyKeyIsDirectory(bucket, object) {
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	return false, s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPath(bucket, object)
+}
+
+// volumeVerifyPutAllowed reports whether a PUT to the verification key is
+// dated now, declares a small body and stores nothing beside it.
+func volumeVerifyPutAllowed(r *http.Request, object string) bool {
+	at, ok := volumeVerifyKeyTime(object)
+	if !ok {
+		return false
+	}
+	if d := volumeVerifyNow().Sub(at); d > volumeVerifyWindow || d < -volumeVerifyWindow {
+		return false
+	}
+	if r.ContentLength < 0 || r.ContentLength > volumeVerifyMaxBytes || len(r.TransferEncoding) > 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	if isExtractZip(r) {
+		return false
+	}
+	for name, values := range r.Header {
+		n := strings.ToLower(name)
+		if strings.HasPrefix(n, "x-amz-meta-") || n == "x-amz-tagging" || n == "content-disposition" ||
+			n == "response-content-disposition" || n == "content-language" ||
+			n == "cache-control" || n == "expires" || n == "x-amz-website-redirect-location" {
+			return false
+		}
+		// aws-chunked only frames the body; any other coding is stored.
+		if n == "content-encoding" && storedContentEncoding(values) != "" {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 func (s3a *S3ApiServer) bucketPrefix(bucket string) string {
 	return s3a.bucketDir(bucket) + "/"
 }
diff --git a/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers.go b/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers.go
index 96d3dcade8..8e747550b7 100644
--- a/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers.go
+++ b/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers.go
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ func (s3a *S3ApiServer) GetObjectHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request)
 
 	bucket, object := s3_constants.GetBucketAndObject(r)
 	glog.V(3).Infof("GetObjectHandler %s %s", bucket, object)
-	if err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPath(bucket, object); err != nil {
+	if _, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(bucket, object); err != nil {
 		s3err.WriteErrorResponse(w, r, s3err.ErrAccessDenied)
 		return
 	}
@@ -2499,7 +2499,7 @@ func (s3a *S3ApiServer) HeadObjectHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request
 
 	bucket, object := s3_constants.GetBucketAndObject(r)
 	glog.V(3).Infof("HeadObjectHandler %s %s", bucket, object)
-	if err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPath(bucket, object); err != nil {
+	if _, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(bucket, object); err != nil {
 		s3err.WriteErrorResponse(w, r, s3err.ErrAccessDenied)
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers_delete.go b/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers_delete.go
index 4e28d9c5c5..3817a28adc 100644
--- a/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers_delete.go
+++ b/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers_delete.go
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func (s3a *S3ApiServer) DeleteObjectHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Reque
 	// The filer ops below each retry, and a failover walk runs the whole set
 	// once per filer, so the backoff comes out of one allowance held here.
 	r = r.WithContext(withFilerRetryBudget(r.Context(), filerRetryRequestBudget))
-	if err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPath(bucket, object); err != nil {
+	if _, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(bucket, object); err != nil {
 		s3err.WriteErrorResponse(w, r, s3err.ErrAccessDenied)
 		return
 	}
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ func (s3a *S3ApiServer) DeleteMultipleObjectsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *h
 				deleteErrors = append(deleteErrors, deleteErrorFromCode(validationCode, object.Key, object.VersionId))
 				continue
 			}
-			if err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPath(bucket, object.Key); err != nil {
+			if _, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(bucket, object.Key); err != nil {
 				deleteErrors = append(deleteErrors, deleteErrorFromCode(s3err.ErrAccessDenied, object.Key, object.VersionId))
 				continue
 			}
diff --git a/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers_put.go b/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers_put.go
index 3b895f9260..1b18f0c560 100644
--- a/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers_put.go
+++ b/weed/s3api/s3api_object_handlers_put.go
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func (s3a *S3ApiServer) PutObjectHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request)
 		s3err.WriteErrorResponse(w, r, s3err.ErrKeyTooLongError)
 		return
 	}
-	if err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPath(bucket, object); err != nil {
+	if isVerify, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(bucket, object); err != nil || (isVerify && !volumeVerifyPutAllowed(r, object)) {
 		s3err.WriteErrorResponse(w, r, s3err.ErrAccessDenied)
 		return
 	}
@@ -991,7 +991,11 @@ func (s3a *S3ApiServer) putToFiler(r *http.Request, filePath string, dataReader
 			}
 			glog.V(3).Infof("putToFiler: Calling CreateEntry for %s", filePath)
 			err := filer_pb.CreateEntry(context.Background(), client, req)
-			if errors.Is(err, filer_pb.ErrExistingIsDirectory) && !isReservedDirectoryName(entry.Name) {
+			// A verification key in a table bucket never becomes a prefix
+			// object: the directory it meets is a namespace, created after the
+			// handler looked.
+			if errors.Is(err, filer_pb.ErrExistingIsDirectory) && !isReservedDirectoryName(entry.Name) &&
+				!(isVolumeVerifyKey(object) && s3a.isTableBucket(bucket)) {
 				// Other keys are nested under this one. S3 keys are flat, so the key is
 				// stored on the directory they live under rather than refused.
 				entry.MarkPrefixObject()
diff --git a/weed/s3api/table_bucket_verify_object_test.go b/weed/s3api/table_bucket_verify_object_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..789d51f377
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed/s3api/table_bucket_verify_object_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+package s3api
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/gorilla/mux"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/filer_pb"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/s3api/s3_constants"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+const verifyTestBucket = "tables"
+
+// verifyTestNow is the server clock the tests pin; keys are dated around it.
+const verifyTestNow = 1790000000000
+
+func newVerifyTestServer(t *testing.T) *S3ApiServer {
+	t.Helper()
+	saved := volumeVerifyNow
+	volumeVerifyNow = func() time.Time { return time.UnixMilli(verifyTestNow) }
+	savedLookup := volumeVerifyLookup
+	volumeVerifyLookup = func(*S3ApiServer, string, string) (*filer_pb.Entry, error) { return nil, filer_pb.ErrNotFound }
+	t.Cleanup(func() { volumeVerifyNow, volumeVerifyLookup = saved, savedLookup })
+	s3a := &S3ApiServer{option: &S3ApiServerOption{BucketsPath: "/buckets"}}
+	s3a.bucketRegistry = NewBucketRegistry(s3a)
+	s3a.bucketRegistry.setMetadataCache(&BucketMetaData{Name: verifyTestBucket, IsTableBucket: true})
+	s3a.bucketRegistry.setMetadataCache(&BucketMetaData{Name: "plain", IsTableBucket: false})
+	return s3a
+}
+
+func TestTableBucketAcceptsExternalVolumeVerifyKey(t *testing.T) {
+	s3a := newVerifyTestServer(t)
+	for _, key := range []string{
+		"verify_1790000000000_1081846483",
+		"/verify_1790000000000_1",
+		"verify_1790003300000_42", // 55 minutes later: inside the window
+		"verify_1789996700000_42", // 55 minutes earlier
+		// reads and deletes take a key of any date (PUT limits it)
+		"verify_1789992000000_1",
+		"verify_1790008000000_1",
+	} {
+		isVerify, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(verifyTestBucket, key)
+		assert.True(t, isVerify, key)
+		assert.NoError(t, err, key)
+		// the handlers that keep the plain rule still refuse it
+		assert.Error(t, s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPath(verifyTestBucket, key), key)
+	}
+	// the Iceberg layout is unchanged: the positive control
+	isVerify, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(verifyTestBucket, "ns/t/data/part-00000.parquet")
+	assert.False(t, isVerify)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestTableBucketRefusesVerifyKeyLookalikes(t *testing.T) {
+	s3a := newVerifyTestServer(t)
+	for _, key := range []string{
+		// the bucket root only
+		"base/verify_1790000000000_1",
+		"ns/verify_1790000000000_1",
+		".uploads/verify_1790000000000_1",
+		".uploads/abc/verify_1790000000000_1",
+		// the exact shape only
+		"verify_1790000000000_1.txt",
+		"verify_1790000000000",
+		"verify_179000000000_1",            // 12-digit timestamp
+		"verify_1790000000000_12345678901", // 11-digit number
+		"verify_abc_123",
+		"verify_1790000000000_1/x",
+		"xverify_1790000000000_1",
+		// ordinary non-Iceberg keys
+		"notes.txt",
+		"ns/t/data/notes.txt",
+	} {
+		isVerify, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(verifyTestBucket, key)
+		assert.False(t, isVerify, key)
+		assert.Error(t, err, key)
+	}
+	// a bucket that is not a table bucket is unaffected
+	isVerify, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify("plain", "verify_1790000000000_1")
+	assert.False(t, isVerify)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func verifyPutRequest(key string) *http.Request {
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPut, "/"+verifyTestBucket+"/"+key, strings.NewReader("x"))
+	return mux.SetURLVars(req, map[string]string{"bucket": verifyTestBucket, "object": key})
+}
+
+// A PUT to the verification key cannot store data: a small declared body and
+// nothing stored beside it.
+func TestTableBucketVerifyKeyPutLimits(t *testing.T) {
+	s3a := newVerifyTestServer(t)
+	const key = "verify_1790000000000_1081846483"
+	for name, mutate := range map[string]func(*http.Request){
+		"too large":                    func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = volumeVerifyMaxBytes + 1 },
+		"content-language":             func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = 0; r.Header.Set("Content-Language", "fr") },
+		"content-encoding":             func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = 0; r.Header.Set("Content-Encoding", "gzip") },
+		"response-content-disposition": func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = 0; r.Header.Set("Response-Content-Disposition", "attachment") },
+		"extract query":                func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = 0; r.URL.RawQuery = "extract=zip" },
+		"extract header":               func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = 0; r.Header.Set(s3_constants.SeaweedFSExtract, "zip") },
+		"undeclared length":            func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = -1 },
+		"chunked":                      func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = 0; r.TransferEncoding = []string{"chunked"} },
+		"user metadata":                func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = 0; r.Header.Set("X-Amz-Meta-Note", "x") },
+		"tagging":                      func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = 0; r.Header.Set("X-Amz-Tagging", "a=b") },
+		"content-disposition":          func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = 0; r.Header.Set("Content-Disposition", "attachment") },
+		"website redirect":             func(r *http.Request) { r.ContentLength = 0; r.Header.Set("X-Amz-Website-Redirect-Location", "/x") },
+	} {
+		req := verifyPutRequest(key)
+		mutate(req)
+		assert.False(t, volumeVerifyPutAllowed(req, key), name)
+		rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		s3a.PutObjectHandler(rec, req)
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusForbidden, rec.Code, name)
+	}
+	ok := verifyPutRequest(key)
+	ok.ContentLength = 21
+	ok.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/octet-stream")
+	ok.Header.Set("Content-Encoding", "aws-chunked")
+	assert.True(t, volumeVerifyPutAllowed(ok, key), "the verification object itself")
+
+	// a PUT is dated within the window of the server's clock
+	for _, old := range []string{"verify_1789992000000_1", "verify_1790008000000_1"} {
+		req := verifyPutRequest(old)
+		req.ContentLength = 21
+		assert.False(t, volumeVerifyPutAllowed(req, old), old)
+		rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		s3a.PutObjectHandler(rec, req)
+		assert.Equal(t, http.StatusForbidden, rec.Code, old)
+	}
+}
+
+// A namespace may carry a name of the key's shape; the key then names its
+// directory and gets the plain layout rule, as does a key whose entry cannot
+// be read.
+func TestTableBucketVerifyKeyNamingDirectoryIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+	s3a := newVerifyTestServer(t)
+	const key = "verify_1790000000000_7"
+	for name, lookup := range map[string]func(*S3ApiServer, string, string) (*filer_pb.Entry, error){
+		"namespace directory": func(*S3ApiServer, string, string) (*filer_pb.Entry, error) {
+			return &filer_pb.Entry{Name: key, IsDirectory: true}, nil
+		},
+		"lookup failure": func(*S3ApiServer, string, string) (*filer_pb.Entry, error) {
+			return nil, errors.New("filer unavailable")
+		},
+	} {
+		volumeVerifyLookup = lookup
+		isVerify, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(verifyTestBucket, key)
+		assert.False(t, isVerify, name)
+		assert.Error(t, err, name)
+	}
+	// the control: an existing verification object is a file
+	volumeVerifyLookup = func(*S3ApiServer, string, string) (*filer_pb.Entry, error) {
+		return &filer_pb.Entry{Name: key}, nil
+	}
+	isVerify, err := s3a.validateTableBucketObjectPathOrVerify(verifyTestBucket, key)
+	assert.True(t, isVerify)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}