diff --git a/sdcm/nemesis/__init__.py b/sdcm/nemesis/__init__.py
index d5bd7d7b5ad..976dc655162 100644
--- a/sdcm/nemesis/__init__.py
+++ b/sdcm/nemesis/__init__.py
@@ -2298,7 +2298,8 @@ def disrupt_truncate_large_partition(self):
         table = "test_table"
         ks_cf = f"{ks_name}.{table}"
         stress_cmd = (
-            "scylla-bench -workload=sequential -mode=write -replication-factor=3 -partition-count=10 "
+            f"scylla-bench -workload=sequential -mode=write "
+            f"-replication-factor={self.tester.reliable_replication_factor} -partition-count=10 "
             + "-clustering-row-count=5555 -clustering-row-size=uniform:10..20 -concurrency=10 "
             + "-connection-count=10 -consistency-level=quorum -rows-per-request=10 -timeout=60s "
             + f"-keyspace {ks_name} -table {table}"
diff --git a/sdcm/tester.py b/sdcm/tester.py
index 1b17555386b..9652978464d 100644
--- a/sdcm/tester.py
+++ b/sdcm/tester.py
@@ -952,6 +952,10 @@ def run(self, result=None):
     def latency_results_file(self):
         return TestConfig.latency_results_file()
 
+    def _is_rf_rack_valid_keyspaces_enabled(self) -> bool:
+        """'rf_rack_valid_keyspaces' bounds a keyspace's RF by the number of racks in the DC."""
+        return bool((self.params.get("append_scylla_yaml") or {}).get("rf_rack_valid_keyspaces", False))
+
     @property
     def reliable_replication_factor(self) -> int:
         """
@@ -965,11 +969,14 @@ def reliable_replication_factor(self) -> int:
         min_nodes_dc = min(n_db_nodes)
 
         # In case tablets are enabled, it's better to set RF smaller than dc-nodes-number, so decommission is allowed.
-        rf_candidate = (
-            max([min_nodes_dc - 1, 1]) if is_tablets_feature_enabled(self.db_cluster.nodes[0]) else min_nodes_dc
-        )
+        tablets_enabled = is_tablets_feature_enabled(self.db_cluster.nodes[0])
+        rf_candidate = max([min_nodes_dc - 1, 1]) if tablets_enabled else min_nodes_dc
         # NOTE: use RF=3 at max to avoid problems on big setups
-        return min(rf_candidate, 3)
+        rf_candidate = min(rf_candidate, 3)
+        if tablets_enabled and self._is_rf_rack_valid_keyspaces_enabled():
+            # 'rf_rack_valid_keyspaces' makes Scylla reject CREATE KEYSPACE with RF above the rack count
+            rf_candidate = min(rf_candidate, max(self.db_cluster.racks_count, 1))
+        return rf_candidate
 
     @property
     def test_id(self):
diff --git a/unit_tests/unit/test_tester.py b/unit_tests/unit/test_tester.py
index 083c1cf7d5a..304eb056229 100644
--- a/unit_tests/unit/test_tester.py
+++ b/unit_tests/unit/test_tester.py
@@ -807,3 +807,61 @@ def test_get_cluster_docker_nonzero_monitor_nodes_builds_monitor_set_docker(tmp_
 
     cluster_docker_mock.MonitorSetDocker.assert_called_once()
     assert tester.monitors is cluster_docker_mock.MonitorSetDocker.return_value
+
+
+# --- Tests for ClusterTester.reliable_replication_factor RF-by-racks bounding ---
+
+
+def _rf_tester(n_db_nodes, racks_count, append_scylla_yaml=None, tablets_enabled=True):
+    tester = MagicMock(spec=ClusterTester)
+    tester.params = {"n_db_nodes": n_db_nodes, "append_scylla_yaml": append_scylla_yaml}
+    tester.db_cluster = MagicMock()
+    tester.db_cluster.nodes = [MagicMock()]
+    tester.db_cluster.racks_count = racks_count
+    tester._is_rf_rack_valid_keyspaces_enabled = types.MethodType(
+        ClusterTester._is_rf_rack_valid_keyspaces_enabled, tester
+    )
+    with patch("sdcm.tester.is_tablets_feature_enabled", return_value=tablets_enabled):
+        return ClusterTester.reliable_replication_factor.fget(tester)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "tablets_enabled, rf_rack_valid, n_db_nodes, racks_count, expected_rf",
+    [
+        pytest.param(True, True, [6], 1, 1, id="tablets-rfrack-one-rack-bites"),
+        pytest.param(True, True, [6], 3, 3, id="tablets-rfrack-multi-rack-unaffected"),
+        pytest.param(True, True, [6], 4, 3, id="tablets-rfrack-cap-at-3-still-wins"),
+        pytest.param(True, False, [6], 1, 3, id="tablets-rfrack-disabled-no-change"),
+        pytest.param(False, True, [6], 1, 3, id="no-tablets-rfrack-enabled-no-change"),
+        pytest.param(False, True, [2, 3], 1, 2, id="no-tablets-path-untouched"),
+        pytest.param(True, True, [1], 0, 1, id="never-degenerates-to-zero"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_reliable_replication_factor(tablets_enabled, rf_rack_valid, n_db_nodes, racks_count, expected_rf):
+    append_scylla_yaml = {"rf_rack_valid_keyspaces": rf_rack_valid} if rf_rack_valid is not None else {}
+    rf = _rf_tester(
+        n_db_nodes=n_db_nodes,
+        racks_count=racks_count,
+        append_scylla_yaml=append_scylla_yaml,
+        tablets_enabled=tablets_enabled,
+    )
+    assert rf == expected_rf
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "append_scylla_yaml, expected",
+    [
+        pytest.param(None, False, id="none"),
+        pytest.param({}, False, id="empty-dict"),
+        pytest.param({"enable_tablets": True}, False, id="unrelated-key"),
+        pytest.param({"rf_rack_valid_keyspaces": False}, False, id="explicitly-disabled"),
+        pytest.param({"rf_rack_valid_keyspaces": True}, True, id="explicitly-enabled"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_is_rf_rack_valid_keyspaces_enabled(append_scylla_yaml, expected):
+    tester = MagicMock(spec=ClusterTester)
+    tester.params = {"append_scylla_yaml": append_scylla_yaml}
+    tester._is_rf_rack_valid_keyspaces_enabled = types.MethodType(
+        ClusterTester._is_rf_rack_valid_keyspaces_enabled, tester
+    )
+    assert tester._is_rf_rack_valid_keyspaces_enabled() is expected