diff --git a/crates/core/component/compact-block/src/component/rpc.rs b/crates/core/component/compact-block/src/component/rpc.rs
index 13b373bffa..b277e3a6bf 100644
--- a/crates/core/component/compact-block/src/component/rpc.rs
+++ b/crates/core/component/compact-block/src/component/rpc.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ use anyhow::bail;
 use cnidarium::Storage;
 use futures::{StreamExt, TryFutureExt, TryStreamExt};
 use penumbra_proto::core::component::compact_block::v1::{
-    query_service_server::QueryService, CompactBlockRangeRequest, CompactBlockRangeResponse,
-    CompactBlockRequest, CompactBlockResponse,
+    query_service_server::QueryService, CompactBlock, CompactBlockRangeRequest,
+    CompactBlockRangeResponse, CompactBlockRequest, CompactBlockResponse,
 };
 use penumbra_sct::component::clock::EpochRead;
 use tokio::sync::mpsc;
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ impl QueryService for Server {
 
         let (tx_blocks, rx_blocks) = mpsc::channel(10);
         let tx_blocks_err = tx_blocks.clone();
+        // Wrap the block sender in a guard that ensures we only send the expected next block
+        let mut tx_blocks = BlockSender {
+            next_height: start_height,
+            inner: tx_blocks,
+        };
         tokio::spawn(
             async move {
                 let _guard = CompactBlockConnectionCounter::new();
@@ -142,7 +147,7 @@ impl QueryService for Server {
                     // Future iterations of this work should start by moving block serialization
                     // outside of the `send_op` future, and investigate if long blocking sends can
                     // happen for benign reasons (i.e not caused by the client).
-                    tx_blocks.send(Ok(compact_block)).await?;
+                    tx_blocks.send(compact_block).await?;
                     metrics::counter!(metrics::COMPACT_BLOCK_RANGE_SERVED_TOTAL).increment(1);
                 }
 
@@ -171,10 +176,7 @@ impl QueryService for Server {
                         .await
                         .expect("no error fetching block")
                         .expect("compact block for in-range height must be present");
-                    tx_blocks
-                        .send(Ok(block))
-                        .await
-                        .map_err(|_| tonic::Status::cancelled("client closed connection"))?;
+                    tx_blocks.send(block).await?;
                     metrics::counter!(metrics::COMPACT_BLOCK_RANGE_SERVED_TOTAL).increment(1);
                 }
 
@@ -200,10 +202,7 @@ impl QueryService for Server {
                         .await
                         .map_err(|e| tonic::Status::internal(e.to_string()))?
                         .expect("compact block for in-range height must be present");
-                    tx_blocks
-                        .send(Ok(block))
-                        .await
-                        .map_err(|_| tonic::Status::cancelled("channel closed"))?;
+                    tx_blocks.send(block).await?;
                     metrics::counter!(metrics::COMPACT_BLOCK_RANGE_SERVED_TOTAL).increment(1);
                 }
             }
@@ -250,3 +249,24 @@ impl Drop for CompactBlockConnectionCounter {
         metrics::gauge!(metrics::COMPACT_BLOCK_RANGE_ACTIVE_CONNECTIONS).decrement(1.0);
     }
 }
+
+/// Stateful wrapper for a mpsc that tracks the outbound height
+struct BlockSender {
+    next_height: u64,
+    inner: mpsc::Sender<Result<CompactBlock, tonic::Status>>,
+}
+
+impl BlockSender {
+    async fn send(&mut self, block: CompactBlock) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        if block.height != self.next_height {
+            bail!(
+                "block height mismatch while sending: expected {}, got {}",
+                self.next_height,
+                block.height
+            );
+        }
+        self.inner.send(Ok(block)).await?;
+        self.next_height += 1;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}