diff --git a/src/phl/ecPhlWhile.ml b/src/phl/ecPhlWhile.ml
index e1714332c..df2982a96 100644
--- a/src/phl/ecPhlWhile.ml
+++ b/src/phl/ecPhlWhile.ml
@@ -170,6 +170,14 @@ let t_bdhoare_while_rev_r inv tc =
   let (lp_guard_exp, lp_body), rem_s = tc1_last_while tc bhs.bhs_s in
   let lp_guard = ss_inv_of_expr (EcMemory.memory mem) lp_guard_exp in
 
+  (* The bound of the conclusion is interpreted in the initial memory, while
+     sub-goal 1 interprets it in the memory the loop starts from: the two
+     coincide only if the prefix [rem_s] does not write the bound. *)
+  if not (PV.indep env (s_write env rem_s) (PV.fv env (EcMemory.memory mem) bound.inv)) then
+    tc_error !!tc
+      "The bound cannot depend on variables written by the \
+       statements preceding the loop";
+
   let w_u   = while_info env lp_guard_exp lp_body in
   let w     = EcEnv.LDecl.fresh_id hyps "w" in
   let hyps' = EcEnv.LDecl.add_local w (EcBaseLogic.LD_abs_st w_u) hyps in
diff --git a/tests/phoare-while-prefix-bound.ec b/tests/phoare-while-prefix-bound.ec
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..00d72bacf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/phoare-while-prefix-bound.ec
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+(* pHL `while` with an invariant only, upper bound: the bound of the
+   conclusion is interpreted in the initial memory, while the goal on the
+   loop interprets it in the memory the loop starts from. A bound that
+   depends on variables written by the statements preceding the loop must
+   be rejected (the judgment below is false for `P.y = -5`). *)
+require import AllCore Real.
+
+module P = { var x, y : int  proc p() = { y <- 0; while (x < 1) { x <- x + 1; } } }.
+
+lemma bad : phoare[P.p : true ==> true] <= (P.y%r + 1%r).
+proof.
+proc.
+fail (while (true)).
+abort.