diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvnemesis/validator.go b/pkg/kv/kvnemesis/validator.go
index 28e456f6500b..33d2d6766526 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvnemesis/validator.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvnemesis/validator.go
@@ -1383,6 +1383,7 @@ func validReadTimes(
 
 		// Handle a point key - put it into `hist`.
 		valB, err := iter.ValueAndErr()
+		valB = append([]byte{}, valB...)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}