diff --git a/src/persist-client/src/internal/trace.rs b/src/persist-client/src/internal/trace.rs
index 00c06b9c62871..20d47847d142b 100644
--- a/src/persist-client/src/internal/trace.rs
+++ b/src/persist-client/src/internal/trace.rs
@@ -1449,6 +1449,12 @@ impl<T: Timestamp + Lattice + Codec64> SpineBatch<T> {
         });
         new_parts.extend_from_slice(&parts[range.end..]);
 
+        let res = if range.len() == parts.len() {
+            ApplyMergeResult::AppliedExact
+        } else {
+            ApplyMergeResult::AppliedSubset
+        };
+
         let new_spine_batch = SpineBatch {
             id: *id,
             desc: desc.to_owned(),
@@ -1462,7 +1468,7 @@ impl<T: Timestamp + Lattice + Codec64> SpineBatch<T> {
         }
 
         *self = new_spine_batch;
-        ApplyMergeResult::AppliedSubset
+        res
     }
 }
 
@@ -2574,4 +2580,57 @@ pub(crate) mod tests {
             prop_assert!(new_batch.run_meta.len() == batch.run_meta.len() - runs.len() + to_replace.run_meta.len());
         });
     }
+
+    #[mz_ore::test]
+    fn test_perform_subset_replacement() {
+        let batch1 = crate::internal::state::tests::hollow::<u64>(0, 10, &["a"], 10);
+        let batch2 = crate::internal::state::tests::hollow::<u64>(10, 20, &["b"], 10);
+        let batch3 = crate::internal::state::tests::hollow::<u64>(20, 30, &["c"], 10);
+
+        let id_batch1 = IdHollowBatch {
+            id: SpineId(0, 1),
+            batch: Arc::new(batch1.clone()),
+        };
+        let id_batch2 = IdHollowBatch {
+            id: SpineId(1, 2),
+            batch: Arc::new(batch2.clone()),
+        };
+        let id_batch3 = IdHollowBatch {
+            id: SpineId(2, 3),
+            batch: Arc::new(batch3.clone()),
+        };
+
+        let spine_batch = SpineBatch {
+            id: SpineId(0, 3),
+            desc: Description::new(
+                Antichain::from_elem(0),
+                Antichain::from_elem(30),
+                Antichain::from_elem(0),
+            ),
+            parts: vec![id_batch1, id_batch2, id_batch3],
+            active_compaction: None,
+            len: 30,
+        };
+
+        let res_exact = crate::internal::state::tests::hollow::<u64>(0, 30, &["d"], 30);
+        let mut sb_exact = spine_batch.clone();
+        let result = sb_exact.perform_subset_replacement(&res_exact, SpineId(0, 3), 0..3, None);
+        assert!(matches!(result, ApplyMergeResult::AppliedExact));
+        assert_eq!(sb_exact.parts.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(sb_exact.len(), 30);
+
+        let res_subset = crate::internal::state::tests::hollow::<u64>(0, 20, &["e"], 20);
+        let mut sb_subset = spine_batch.clone();
+        let result = sb_subset.perform_subset_replacement(&res_subset, SpineId(0, 2), 0..2, None);
+        assert!(matches!(result, ApplyMergeResult::AppliedSubset));
+        assert_eq!(sb_subset.parts.len(), 2); // One new part + one old part
+        assert_eq!(sb_subset.len(), 30);
+
+        let res_too_big = crate::internal::state::tests::hollow::<u64>(0, 30, &["f"], 31);
+        let mut sb_too_big = spine_batch.clone();
+        let result = sb_too_big.perform_subset_replacement(&res_too_big, SpineId(0, 3), 0..3, None);
+        assert!(matches!(result, ApplyMergeResult::NotAppliedTooManyUpdates));
+        assert_eq!(sb_too_big.parts.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(sb_too_big.len(), 30);
+    }
 }