diff --git a/core/vm/eip8038_test.go b/core/vm/eip8038_test.go
index c08c54fb2ce..f20a9d8a0eb 100644
--- a/core/vm/eip8038_test.go
+++ b/core/vm/eip8038_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 package vm
 
 import (
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
@@ -235,3 +236,19 @@ func TestEIP8038SelfdestructAccountWrite(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("state gas = %d, want %d", res.UsedStateGas, want)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestEIP8038SStoreAccessGuard covers the affordability check that bails out
+// before the slot is read once the gas left cannot cover the slot's access cost.
+// The two PUSH1s cost 6, so a 2506 budget leaves 2500 at the SSTORE: above the
+// reentrancy sentry (2300) yet below COLD_STORAGE_ACCESS (3000). The guard must
+// fire, distinguishable from the sentry/charge OOG by its "slot access" message.
+func TestEIP8038SStoreAccessGuard(t *testing.T) {
+	budget := NewGasBudget(6+params.SstoreSentryGasEIP2200+200, 0)
+	_, _, err := run8038(t, sstore(0, 1), budget, new(uint256.Int), nil)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected failure: gas left cannot cover cold-slot access")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "not enough gas for slot access") {
+		t.Fatalf("got %q, want the slot-access guard error", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/vm/gas_table.go b/core/vm/gas_table.go
index 8cc63cb2369..d8fbf2b461c 100644
--- a/core/vm/gas_table.go
+++ b/core/vm/gas_table.go
@@ -696,10 +696,10 @@ func gasSStore8037And8038(evm *EVM, contract *Contract, stack *Stack, mem *Memor
 		return GasCosts{}, errors.New("not enough gas for reentrancy sentry")
 	}
 	var (
-		y, x              = stack.back(1), stack.peek()
-		slot              = common.Hash(x.Bytes32())
-		current, original = evm.StateDB.GetStateAndCommittedState(contract.Address(), slot)
-		value             = common.Hash(y.Bytes32())
+		y, x     = stack.back(1), stack.peek()
+		slot     = common.Hash(x.Bytes32())
+		value    = common.Hash(y.Bytes32())
+		stateSet = params.StorageCreationSize * evm.Context.CostPerStateByte
 	)
 	// Check slot presence in the access list
 	access := params.WarmStorageReadCostEIP2929
@@ -707,7 +707,12 @@ func gasSStore8037And8038(evm *EVM, contract *Contract, stack *Stack, mem *Memor
 		access = params.ColdStorageAccessAmsterdam
 		evm.StateDB.AddSlotToAccessList(contract.Address(), slot)
 	}
-	stateSet := params.StorageCreationSize * evm.Context.CostPerStateByte
+	// Check access cost affordability before reading slot
+	if contract.Gas.RegularGas < access {
+		return GasCosts{}, errors.New("not enough gas for slot access")
+	}
+	// Read the slot value for gas cost measurement
+	current, original := evm.StateDB.GetStateAndCommittedState(contract.Address(), slot)
 
 	if current == value { // noop (1)
 		return GasCosts{RegularGas: access}, nil