diff --git a/tools/db_bench_tool.cc b/tools/db_bench_tool.cc
index 177a4aeea8ac2dd42f013edb46eaa374d91bd77b..28807eea9fad35c0c59ab7758608a250107ce152 100644
--- a/tools/db_bench_tool.cc
+++ b/tools/db_bench_tool.cc
@@ -3069,6 +3069,12 @@ void VerifyDBFromDB(std::string& truth_db_name) {
         fprintf(stderr, "Invalid cuckoo_hash_ratio\n");
         exit(1);
       }
+
+      if (!FLAGS_mmap_read) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "cuckoo table format requires mmap read to operate\n");
+        exit(1);
+      }
+
       rocksdb::CuckooTableOptions table_options;
       table_options.hash_table_ratio = FLAGS_cuckoo_hash_ratio;
       table_options.identity_as_first_hash = FLAGS_identity_as_first_hash;