diff --git a/sys/zuse.hoon b/sys/zuse.hoon
index 11e32264e9..b79d29d983 100644
--- a/sys/zuse.hoon
+++ b/sys/zuse.hoon
@@ -8117,6 +8117,10 @@
       ::
       ?~  net.hull
         [%| %parent-not-keyed]
+      ::  life must match parent's
+      ::
+      ?.  =(lyf.seed life.u.net.hull)
+        [%| %life-mismatch]
       =/  loy  (com:nu:crub:crypto pass.u.net.hull)
       =/  hax  (shaf %earl (sham who.seed lyf.seed pub:ex:cub))
       ::  the signature must be valid
@@ -8138,6 +8142,10 @@
       ::
       ?.  =(pub:ex:cub pass.u.net.hull)
         [%| %key-mismatch]
+      ::  life must match the contract
+      ::
+      ?.  =(lyf.seed life.u.net.hull)
+        [%| %life-mismatch]
       ::  the boot life must be greater than and discontinuous with
       ::  the last seen life (per the sponsor)
       ::
diff --git a/tests/sys/zuse/dawn.hoon b/tests/sys/zuse/dawn.hoon
index 0baa1c2a3a..ee14cf06fb 100644
--- a/tests/sys/zuse/dawn.hoon
+++ b/tests/sys/zuse/dawn.hoon
@@ -168,6 +168,12 @@
     !>  [%| %key-mismatch]
     !>  (veri:dawn sed hul ~)
 ::
+++  test-veri-life-mismatch
+  =/  sed  [~zod 2 sec ~]
+  %+  expect-eq
+    !>  [%| %life-mismatch]
+    !>  (veri:dawn sed hul ~)
+::
 ++  test-veri-already-booted
   =/  sed  [~zod 1 sec ~]
   ;:  weld
@@ -213,6 +219,18 @@
     !>  [%| %parent-not-keyed]
     !>  (veri:dawn sed =>(hul .(net ~)) ~)
 ::
+++  test-veri-earl-life-mismatch
+  =/  cub  (pit:nu:crub:crypto 24 %foo)
+  =/  who  ~simtel-mithet-dozzod-dozzod
+  =/  sed
+    =/  sig
+      %-  sign:as:(nol:nu:crub:crypto sec)
+      (shaf %earl (sham who 1 pub:ex:cub))
+    [who 2 sec:ex:cub `sig]
+  %+  expect-eq
+    !>  [%| %life-mismatch]
+    !>  (veri:dawn sed hul ~)
+::
 ++  test-veri-earl-invalid-sig
   =/  cub  (pit:nu:crub:crypto 24 %foo)
   =/  who  ~simtel-mithet-dozzod-dozzod