diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvclient/rangefeed/rangefeed.go b/pkg/kv/kvclient/rangefeed/rangefeed.go
index 83e9c88750e7..8b3e25d4de48 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvclient/rangefeed/rangefeed.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvclient/rangefeed/rangefeed.go
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ func (f *RangeFeed) maybeRunInitialScan(
 		// indicating that the value was previously deleted.
 		if f.withDiff {
 			v.PrevValue = v.Value
+			v.PrevValue.Timestamp = hlc.Timestamp{}
 		}
 
 		// It's something of a bummer that we must allocate a new value for each
diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvclient/rangefeed/rangefeed_external_test.go b/pkg/kv/kvclient/rangefeed/rangefeed_external_test.go
index e31ed8ad8465..3d2d0703b065 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvclient/rangefeed/rangefeed_external_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvclient/rangefeed/rangefeed_external_test.go
@@ -88,8 +88,9 @@ func TestRangeFeedIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 		v1 := <-rows
 		require.Equal(t, mkKey("a"), v1.Key)
 		// Ensure the initial scan contract is fulfilled when WithDiff is specified.
-		require.Equal(t, v1.Value, v1.PrevValue)
+		require.Equal(t, v1.Value.RawBytes, v1.PrevValue.RawBytes)
 		require.Equal(t, v1.Value.Timestamp, afterB)
+		require.True(t, v1.PrevValue.Timestamp.IsEmpty())
 	}
 	{
 		v2 := <-rows
diff --git a/pkg/roachpb/api.pb.go b/pkg/roachpb/api.pb.go
index e13f4041dd0c..18b4015caae7 100644
--- a/pkg/roachpb/api.pb.go
+++ b/pkg/roachpb/api.pb.go
@@ -7130,6 +7130,7 @@ type RangeFeedValue struct {
 	// 1. with_diff was passed in the corresponding RangeFeedRequest.
 	// 2. the key-value was present and not a deletion tombstone before
 	//    this event.
+	// The timestamp on the previous value is empty.
 	PrevValue Value `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=prev_value,json=prevValue,proto3" json:"prev_value"`
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/roachpb/api.proto b/pkg/roachpb/api.proto
index 248e4ce8cb1b..6e6eadf491bb 100644
--- a/pkg/roachpb/api.proto
+++ b/pkg/roachpb/api.proto
@@ -2385,6 +2385,7 @@ message RangeFeedValue {
   // 1. with_diff was passed in the corresponding RangeFeedRequest.
   // 2. the key-value was present and not a deletion tombstone before
   //    this event.
+  // The timestamp on the previous value is empty.
   Value prev_value = 3 [(gogoproto.nullable) = false];
 }