diff --git a/drivers/common/src/lib.rs b/drivers/common/src/lib.rs
index b6661e3aaa..0f2ada3cf6 100644
--- a/drivers/common/src/lib.rs
+++ b/drivers/common/src/lib.rs
@@ -329,3 +329,43 @@ impl VirtaddrTranslationHandle {
         Ok(usize::from_ne_bytes(buf))
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod physmap_type_assertions {
+    use super::*;
+
+    /// If `physmap` ever changes its error type, this test fails to
+    /// compile and surfaces the regression at `cargo check` time on the
+    /// host rather than during a full Redox cross-build.
+    ///
+    /// The check uses `std::mem::size_of_val` on a constructed error
+    /// value. `libredox::error::Error` is `pub struct { errno: u16 }`,
+    /// so its `size_of_val` is exactly `size_of::<u16>() == 2`. A
+    /// future change to a different error type (e.g.
+    /// `syscall::error::Error { errno: i32 }` which would be 4 bytes)
+    /// would change this constant and force a maintainer to update
+    /// both the assertion and the downstream `map_err` adapters in
+    /// lockstep — making the type drift visible at review time rather
+    /// than at build time.
+    #[test]
+    fn physmap_returns_libredox_error_result() {
+        // Reference layout: `libredox::error::Error { errno: u16 }`.
+        // If this changes the size assertion below must be updated.
+        const EXPECTED_SIZE: usize = std::mem::size_of::<u16>();
+
+        // Reference error type used at the assertion site.
+        let reference: libredox::error::Error = libredox::error::Error::new(0);
+        assert_eq!(std::mem::size_of_val(&reference), EXPECTED_SIZE);
+
+        // Coercion check: the function pointer signature must be
+        // mappable to the expected return type. If physmap's error
+        // type drifts (e.g. from `libredox::error::Error` to
+        // `syscall::error::Error` or `std::io::Error`), this coercion
+        // fails to compile. We never call `f` — we only borrow its
+        // signature.
+        let _f: PhysmapSig = physmap;
+    }
+
+    /// Concrete signature of `physmap` for the assertion above.
+    type PhysmapSig = unsafe fn(usize, usize, Prot, MemoryType) -> libredox::error::Result<*mut ()>;
+}