diff --git a/client/pkg/testutil/before.go b/client/pkg/testutil/before.go
index c3a01b1e6..8c21663b7 100644
--- a/client/pkg/testutil/before.go
+++ b/client/pkg/testutil/before.go
@@ -21,16 +21,13 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"go.etcd.io/etcd/client/pkg/v3/verify"
 )
 
-// These are constants from "go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/verify",
-// but we don't want to take dependency.
-const ENV_VERIFY = "ETCD_VERIFY"
-const ENV_VERIFY_ALL_VALUE = "all"
-
 func BeforeTest(t testing.TB) {
 	RegisterLeakDetection(t)
-	os.Setenv(ENV_VERIFY, ENV_VERIFY_ALL_VALUE)
+
+	revertVerifyFunc := verify.EnableAllVerifications()
 
 	path, err := os.Getwd()
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
@@ -38,7 +35,10 @@ func BeforeTest(t testing.TB) {
 	assert.NoError(t, os.Chdir(tempDir))
 	t.Logf("Changing working directory to: %s", tempDir)
 
-	t.Cleanup(func() { assert.NoError(t, os.Chdir(path)) })
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		revertVerifyFunc()
+		assert.NoError(t, os.Chdir(path))
+	})
 }
 
 func BeforeIntegrationExamples(*testing.M) func() {
diff --git a/client/pkg/verify/verify.go b/client/pkg/verify/verify.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..13da25da9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/pkg/verify/verify.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+// Copyright 2022 The etcd Authors
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package verify
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+const ENV_VERIFY = "ETCD_VERIFY"
+
+type VerificationType string
+
+const (
+	ENV_VERIFY_VALUE_ALL    VerificationType = "all"
+	ENV_VERIFY_VALUE_ASSERT VerificationType = "assert"
+)
+
+func getEnvVerify() string {
+	return strings.ToLower(os.Getenv(ENV_VERIFY))
+}
+
+func IsVerificationEnabled(verification VerificationType) bool {
+	env := getEnvVerify()
+	return env == string(ENV_VERIFY_VALUE_ALL) || env == strings.ToLower(string(verification))
+}
+
+// EnableVerifications returns a function that can be used to bring the original settings.
+func EnableVerifications(verification VerificationType) func() {
+	previousEnv := getEnvVerify()
+	os.Setenv(ENV_VERIFY, string(verification))
+	return func() {
+		os.Setenv(ENV_VERIFY, string(previousEnv))
+	}
+}
+
+// EnableAllVerifications returns a function that can be used to bring the original settings.
+func EnableAllVerifications() func() {
+	return EnableVerifications(ENV_VERIFY_VALUE_ALL)
+}
+
+// Verify performs verification if the assertions are enabled.
+// In the default setup running in tests and skipped in the production code.
+func Verify(f func()) {
+	if IsVerificationEnabled(ENV_VERIFY_VALUE_ASSERT) {
+		f()
+	}
+}
diff --git a/etcdutl/etcdutl/backup_command.go b/etcdutl/etcdutl/backup_command.go
index 28a02cfda..22efa35bf 100644
--- a/etcdutl/etcdutl/backup_command.go
+++ b/etcdutl/etcdutl/backup_command.go
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func saveDB(lg *zap.Logger, destDB, srcDB string, idx uint64, term uint64, desir
 		tx.LockOutsideApply()
 		defer tx.Unlock()
 		schema.UnsafeCreateMetaBucket(tx)
-		schema.UnsafeUpdateConsistentIndex(tx, idx, term)
+		schema.UnsafeUpdateConsistentIndexForce(tx, idx, term)
 	} else {
 		// Thanks to translateWAL not moving entries, but just replacing them with
 		// 'empty', there is no need to update the consistency index.
diff --git a/etcdutl/snapshot/v3_snapshot.go b/etcdutl/snapshot/v3_snapshot.go
index 53203588a..a9344cbf2 100644
--- a/etcdutl/snapshot/v3_snapshot.go
+++ b/etcdutl/snapshot/v3_snapshot.go
@@ -483,6 +483,6 @@ func (s *v3Manager) updateCIndex(commit uint64, term uint64) error {
 	be := backend.NewDefaultBackend(s.lg, s.outDbPath())
 	defer be.Close()
 
-	cindex.UpdateConsistentIndex(be.BatchTx(), commit, term)
+	cindex.UpdateConsistentIndexForce(be.BatchTx(), commit, term)
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/server/etcdserver/cindex/cindex.go b/server/etcdserver/cindex/cindex.go
index 05b4069bb..70646e19e 100644
--- a/server/etcdserver/cindex/cindex.go
+++ b/server/etcdserver/cindex/cindex.go
@@ -169,8 +169,8 @@ func (f *fakeConsistentIndex) SetConsistentApplyingIndex(index uint64, term uint
 func (f *fakeConsistentIndex) UnsafeSave(_ backend.BatchTx) {}
 func (f *fakeConsistentIndex) SetBackend(_ Backend)         {}
 
-func UpdateConsistentIndex(tx backend.BatchTx, index uint64, term uint64) {
+func UpdateConsistentIndexForce(tx backend.BatchTx, index uint64, term uint64) {
 	tx.LockOutsideApply()
 	defer tx.Unlock()
-	schema.UnsafeUpdateConsistentIndex(tx, index, term)
+	schema.UnsafeUpdateConsistentIndexForce(tx, index, term)
 }
diff --git a/server/etcdserver/cindex/cindex_test.go b/server/etcdserver/cindex/cindex_test.go
index da93d51c2..26269e944 100644
--- a/server/etcdserver/cindex/cindex_test.go
+++ b/server/etcdserver/cindex/cindex_test.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"go.etcd.io/etcd/client/pkg/v3/testutil"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/storage/backend"
 	betesting "go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/storage/backend/testing"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/storage/schema"
@@ -66,28 +67,33 @@ func TestConsistentIndex(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestConsistentIndexDecrease(t *testing.T) {
+	testutil.BeforeTest(t)
 	initIndex := uint64(100)
 	initTerm := uint64(10)
 
 	tcs := []struct {
-		name  string
-		index uint64
-		term  uint64
+		name          string
+		index         uint64
+		term          uint64
+		panicExpected bool
 	}{
 		{
-			name:  "Decrease term",
-			index: initIndex + 1,
-			term:  initTerm - 1,
+			name:          "Decrease term",
+			index:         initIndex + 1,
+			term:          initTerm - 1,
+			panicExpected: false, // TODO: Change in v3.7
 		},
 		{
-			name:  "Decrease CI",
-			index: initIndex - 1,
-			term:  initTerm + 1,
+			name:          "Decrease CI",
+			index:         initIndex - 1,
+			term:          initTerm + 1,
+			panicExpected: true,
 		},
 		{
-			name:  "Decrease CI and term",
-			index: initIndex - 1,
-			term:  initTerm - 1,
+			name:          "Decrease CI and term",
+			index:         initIndex - 1,
+			term:          initTerm - 1,
+			panicExpected: true,
 		},
 	}
 	for _, tc := range tcs {
@@ -106,13 +112,21 @@ func TestConsistentIndexDecrease(t *testing.T) {
 			ci := NewConsistentIndex(be)
 			ci.SetConsistentIndex(tc.index, tc.term)
 			tx = be.BatchTx()
-			tx.Lock()
-			ci.UnsafeSave(tx)
-			tx.Unlock()
-			assert.Equal(t, tc.index, ci.ConsistentIndex())
+			func() {
+				tx.Lock()
+				defer tx.Unlock()
+				if tc.panicExpected {
+					assert.Panics(t, func() { ci.UnsafeSave(tx) }, "Should refuse to decrease cindex")
+					return
+				}
+				ci.UnsafeSave(tx)
+			}()
+			if !tc.panicExpected {
+				assert.Equal(t, tc.index, ci.ConsistentIndex())
 
-			ci = NewConsistentIndex(be)
-			assert.Equal(t, tc.index, ci.ConsistentIndex())
+				ci = NewConsistentIndex(be)
+				assert.Equal(t, tc.index, ci.ConsistentIndex())
+			}
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/server/storage/backend/verify.go b/server/storage/backend/verify.go
index a6a0b8675..729e90eff 100644
--- a/server/storage/backend/verify.go
+++ b/server/storage/backend/verify.go
@@ -15,17 +15,15 @@
 package backend
 
 import (
-	"os"
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"strings"
 
+	"go.etcd.io/etcd/client/pkg/v3/verify"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 )
 
 const (
-	ENV_VERIFY           = "ETCD_VERIFY"
-	ENV_VERIFY_ALL_VALUE = "all"
-	ENV_VERIFY_LOCK      = "lock"
+	ENV_VERIFY_VALUE_LOCK verify.VerificationType = "lock"
 )
 
 func ValidateCalledInsideApply(lg *zap.Logger) {
@@ -56,7 +54,7 @@ func ValidateCalledInsideUnittest(lg *zap.Logger) {
 }
 
 func verifyLockEnabled() bool {
-	return os.Getenv(ENV_VERIFY) == ENV_VERIFY_ALL_VALUE || os.Getenv(ENV_VERIFY) == ENV_VERIFY_LOCK
+	return verify.IsVerificationEnabled(ENV_VERIFY_VALUE_LOCK)
 }
 
 func insideApply() bool {
diff --git a/server/storage/backend/verify_test.go b/server/storage/backend/verify_test.go
index 5cb38ee9d..914e24401 100644
--- a/server/storage/backend/verify_test.go
+++ b/server/storage/backend/verify_test.go
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@
 package backend_test
 
 import (
-	"os"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"go.etcd.io/etcd/client/pkg/v3/verify"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/storage/backend"
 	betesting "go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/storage/backend/testing"
 )
@@ -69,11 +69,8 @@ func TestLockVerify(t *testing.T) {
 			expectPanic: false,
 		},
 	}
-	env := os.Getenv("ETCD_VERIFY")
-	os.Setenv("ETCD_VERIFY", "lock")
-	defer func() {
-		os.Setenv("ETCD_VERIFY", env)
-	}()
+	revertVerifyFunc := verify.EnableVerifications(backend.ENV_VERIFY_VALUE_LOCK)
+	defer revertVerifyFunc()
 	for _, tc := range tcs {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 
diff --git a/server/storage/schema/cindex.go b/server/storage/schema/cindex.go
index afd98d8d9..a2d15b278 100644
--- a/server/storage/schema/cindex.go
+++ b/server/storage/schema/cindex.go
@@ -16,16 +16,18 @@ package schema
 
 import (
 	"encoding/binary"
+	"fmt"
 
+	"go.etcd.io/etcd/client/pkg/v3/verify"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/storage/backend"
 )
 
-// UnsafeCreateMetaBucket creates the `meta` bucket (if it does not exists yet).
+// UnsafeCreateMetaBucket creates the `meta` bucket (if it does not exist yet).
 func UnsafeCreateMetaBucket(tx backend.BatchTx) {
 	tx.UnsafeCreateBucket(Meta)
 }
 
-// CreateMetaBucket creates the `meta` bucket (if it does not exists yet).
+// CreateMetaBucket creates the `meta` bucket (if it does not exist yet).
 func CreateMetaBucket(tx backend.BatchTx) {
 	tx.LockOutsideApply()
 	defer tx.Unlock()
@@ -57,13 +59,31 @@ func ReadConsistentIndex(tx backend.ReadTx) (uint64, uint64) {
 	return UnsafeReadConsistentIndex(tx)
 }
 
+func UnsafeUpdateConsistentIndexForce(tx backend.BatchTx, index uint64, term uint64) {
+	unsafeUpdateConsistentIndex(tx, index, term, true)
+}
+
 func UnsafeUpdateConsistentIndex(tx backend.BatchTx, index uint64, term uint64) {
+	unsafeUpdateConsistentIndex(tx, index, term, false)
+}
+
+func unsafeUpdateConsistentIndex(tx backend.BatchTx, index uint64, term uint64, allowDecreasing bool) {
 	if index == 0 {
 		// Never save 0 as it means that we didn't load the real index yet.
 		return
 	}
 	bs1 := make([]byte, 8)
 	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(bs1, index)
+
+	if !allowDecreasing {
+		verify.Verify(func() {
+			previousIndex, _ := UnsafeReadConsistentIndex(tx)
+			if index < previousIndex {
+				panic(fmt.Errorf("update of consistent index not advancing: previous: %v new: %v", previousIndex, index))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+
 	// put the index into the underlying backend
 	// tx has been locked in TxnBegin, so there is no need to lock it again
 	tx.UnsafePut(Meta, MetaConsistentIndexKeyName, bs1)
diff --git a/server/verify/verify.go b/server/verify/verify.go
index 2b73fbc07..d96ba595f 100644
--- a/server/verify/verify.go
+++ b/server/verify/verify.go
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ package verify
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
 
+	"go.etcd.io/etcd/client/pkg/v3/verify"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/raft/v3/raftpb"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/storage/backend"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/storage/datadir"
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 )
 
-const ENV_VERIFY = "ETCD_VERIFY"
-const ENV_VERIFY_ALL_VALUE = "all"
+const ENV_VERIFY_VALUE_STORAGE_WAL verify.VerificationType = "storage_wal"
 
 type Config struct {
 	// DataDir is a root directory where the data being verified are stored.
@@ -90,7 +89,7 @@ func Verify(cfg Config) error {
 // VerifyIfEnabled performs verification according to ETCD_VERIFY env settings.
 // See Verify for more information.
 func VerifyIfEnabled(cfg Config) error {
-	if os.Getenv(ENV_VERIFY) == ENV_VERIFY_ALL_VALUE {
+	if verify.IsVerificationEnabled(ENV_VERIFY_VALUE_STORAGE_WAL) {
 		return Verify(cfg)
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/tests/framework/integration/testing.go b/tests/framework/integration/testing.go
index a992c87f0..4c5c76c3e 100644
--- a/tests/framework/integration/testing.go
+++ b/tests/framework/integration/testing.go
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ import (
 
 	grpc_logsettable "github.com/grpc-ecosystem/go-grpc-middleware/logging/settable"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/client/pkg/v3/testutil"
+	"go.etcd.io/etcd/client/pkg/v3/verify"
 	clientv3 "go.etcd.io/etcd/client/v3"
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/embed"
-	"go.etcd.io/etcd/server/v3/verify"
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zapcore"
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zapgrpc"
 	"go.uber.org/zap/zaptest"
@@ -90,18 +90,20 @@ func BeforeTest(t testutil.TB, opts ...TestOption) {
 	}
 	previousInsideTestContext := insideTestContext
 
+	// Integration tests should verify written state as much as possible.
+	revertFunc := verify.EnableAllVerifications()
+
 	// Registering cleanup early, such it will get executed even if the helper fails.
 	t.Cleanup(func() {
 		grpc_logger.Reset()
 		insideTestContext = previousInsideTestContext
 		os.Chdir(previousWD)
+		revertFunc()
 	})
 
 	grpc_logger.Set(zapgrpc.NewLogger(zaptest.NewLogger(t).Named("grpc")))
 	insideTestContext = true
 
-	// Integration tests should verify written state as much as possible.
-	os.Setenv(verify.ENV_VERIFY, verify.ENV_VERIFY_ALL_VALUE)
 	os.Chdir(t.TempDir())
 }