diff --git a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/client_ivc/client_ivc.test.cpp b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/client_ivc/client_ivc.test.cpp
index 01b1abcdef5d..7501b87a68e9 100644
--- a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/client_ivc/client_ivc.test.cpp
+++ b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/client_ivc/client_ivc.test.cpp
@@ -125,12 +125,13 @@ TEST_F(ClientIVCTests, Full)
     auto intermediary_acc = update_accumulator_and_decide_native(
         ivc.prover_fold_output.accumulator, kernel_fold_proof, foo_verifier_instance, kernel_vk);
 
-    VerifierFoldData kernel_fold_output = { kernel_fold_proof, function_vk_with_merge };
+    VerifierFoldData kernel_fold_output = { kernel_fold_proof, kernel_vk };
     size_t NUM_CIRCUITS = 1;
     for (size_t circuit_idx = 0; circuit_idx < NUM_CIRCUITS; ++circuit_idx) {
         // Accumulate function circuit
         Builder function_circuit = create_mock_circuit(ivc);
         FoldProof function_fold_proof = ivc.accumulate(function_circuit);
+        function_vk_with_merge = std::make_shared<VerificationKey>(ivc.prover_instance->proving_key);
 
         intermediary_acc = update_accumulator_and_decide_native(
             ivc.prover_fold_output.accumulator, function_fold_proof, intermediary_acc, function_vk_with_merge);
diff --git a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/protogalaxy/protogalaxy_verifier.cpp b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/protogalaxy/protogalaxy_verifier.cpp
index cf08f67d30a1..1b0ce6e39fb1 100644
--- a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/protogalaxy/protogalaxy_verifier.cpp
+++ b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/protogalaxy/protogalaxy_verifier.cpp
@@ -15,11 +15,12 @@ void ProtoGalaxyVerifier_<VerifierInstances>::receive_and_finalise_instance(cons
         transcript->template receive_from_prover<uint32_t>(domain_separator + "_public_input_size");
     inst->verification_key->pub_inputs_offset =
         transcript->template receive_from_prover<uint32_t>(domain_separator + "_pub_inputs_offset");
-    inst->verification_key->public_inputs.clear();
+    std::vector<FF> public_inputs;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < inst->verification_key->num_public_inputs; ++i) {
         auto public_input_i =
             transcript->template receive_from_prover<FF>(domain_separator + "_public_input_" + std::to_string(i));
-        inst->verification_key->public_inputs.emplace_back(public_input_i);
+        public_inputs.emplace_back(public_input_i);
+        ASSERT(public_input_i == inst->verification_key->public_inputs[i]);
     }
 
     // Get commitments to first three wire polynomials
diff --git a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/ultra_honk/ultra_verifier.cpp b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/ultra_honk/ultra_verifier.cpp
index b0b7a602c184..c94ca141555a 100644
--- a/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/ultra_honk/ultra_verifier.cpp
+++ b/barretenberg/cpp/src/barretenberg/ultra_honk/ultra_verifier.cpp
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ template <typename Flavor> bool UltraVerifier_<Flavor>::verify_proof(const HonkP
     for (size_t i = 0; i < public_input_size; ++i) {
         auto public_input_i = transcript->template receive_from_prover<FF>("public_input_" + std::to_string(i));
         public_inputs.emplace_back(public_input_i);
+        if (public_input_i != key->public_inputs[i]) {
+            return false;
+        }
     }
 
     // Get commitments to first three wire polynomials