diff --git a/src/App/Components/Pages/ImportWizard.razor b/src/App/Components/Pages/ImportWizard.razor
index 5879bff..99e519b 100644
--- a/src/App/Components/Pages/ImportWizard.razor
+++ b/src/App/Components/Pages/ImportWizard.razor
@@ -292,6 +292,14 @@
             return;
         }
 
+        // The mapping can change after a dry run — re-check before writing.
+        _validationErrors = Validate();
+        if (_validationErrors.Count > 0)
+        {
+            _staged = null;
+            return;
+        }
+
         _committing = true;
         try
         {
@@ -341,6 +349,21 @@
             }
         }
 
+        // Two Reading columns on one meter would stage two readings per row at the same timestamp,
+        // and (meter_id, time) is the reading key — reject it here rather than at the DB.
+        var duplicateTargets = _columns
+            .Select((c, i) => (Column: c, Index: i))
+            .Where(x => x.Column.Role == MappingRole.Reading && x.Column.MeterId is not null)
+            .GroupBy(x => x.Column.MeterId!.Value)
+            .Where(g => g.Count() > 1);
+
+        foreach (var group in duplicateTargets)
+        {
+            var meterName = _meters.FirstOrDefault(m => m.Id == group.Key)?.Name ?? $"meter {group.Key}";
+            var cols = string.Join(", ", group.Select(x => $"Col {x.Index}"));
+            errors.Add($"{cols} all read into '{meterName}'. Each Reading column needs its own meter.");
+        }
+
         return errors;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Infrastructure/Import/ImportService.cs b/src/Infrastructure/Import/ImportService.cs
index 223d998..08a7a64 100644
--- a/src/Infrastructure/Import/ImportService.cs
+++ b/src/Infrastructure/Import/ImportService.cs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ public sealed class ImportService(MeterVaultDbContext db, NormalizationService n
         StagedImport staged, string? sourceName, string? mappingJson, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
     {
         ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(staged);
+        GuardDuplicateReadings(staged);
 
         await using var tx = await _db.Database.BeginTransactionAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
 
@@ -89,6 +90,31 @@ public sealed class ImportService(MeterVaultDbContext db, NormalizationService n
         await tx.CommitAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// A reading is keyed by (meter, time), so a staged set holding two rows for one meter at one
+    /// timestamp cannot be written. Usually a mapping that points two source columns at one meter —
+    /// report it in those terms instead of letting EF surface a change-tracker error.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static void GuardDuplicateReadings(StagedImport staged)
+    {
+        var duplicates = staged.Readings
+            .GroupBy(r => (r.MeterId, r.Time))
+            .Where(g => g.Count() > 1)
+            .ToList();
+
+        if (duplicates.Count == 0)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        var sample = string.Join("; ", duplicates.Take(3)
+            .Select(g => $"meter {g.Key.MeterId} at {g.Key.Time:yyyy-MM-dd}"));
+
+        throw new InvalidOperationException(
+            $"{duplicates.Count} duplicate reading(s): the same meter is written twice at the same " +
+            $"timestamp ({sample}). Check that no two mapped columns target the same meter.");
+    }
+
     private static IEnumerable<int> AffectedMeters(StagedImport staged) =>
         staged.Readings.Select(r => r.MeterId)
             .Concat(staged.Events.Select(e => e.MeterId))