diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hi_mamba_radix_cache.py b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hi_mamba_radix_cache.py
index a08b2a33c..2157bcc55 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hi_mamba_radix_cache.py
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hi_mamba_radix_cache.py
@@ -277,6 +277,10 @@ class HiMambaRadixCache(MambaRadixCache):
         super().reset()
 
     def write_backup(self, node: TreeNode, write_back=False):
+        # Backup invariant: parent must be backed up before child.
+        if node.parent != self.root_node and not node.parent.backuped:
+            return
+
         # If mamba host slot already exists, refresh its LRU position.
         if node.mamba_value is not None and node.mamba_host_value is not None:
             if self.mamba_host_lru_list.in_list(node):
diff --git a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hiradix_cache.py b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hiradix_cache.py
index 3c1e97daa..fd75f859d 100644
--- a/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hiradix_cache.py
+++ b/python/sglang/srt/mem_cache/hiradix_cache.py
@@ -608,6 +608,10 @@ class HiRadixCache(RadixCache):
             return False
 
     def write_backup(self, node: TreeNode, write_back=False):
+        # Backup invariant: parent must be backed up before child.
+        if node.parent != self.root_node and not node.parent.backuped:
+            return
+
         host_indices = self.cache_controller.write(
             device_indices=node.value,
             node_id=node.id,
@@ -836,6 +840,8 @@ class HiRadixCache(RadixCache):
 
     def _evict_regular(self, node: TreeNode):
         # evict a node not initiated write to host -- emit BlockRemoved
+        assert len(node.children) == 0, f"non-leaf, {node.id=}"
+
         self._record_remove_event(node)
         self.cache_controller.mem_pool_device_allocator.free(node.value)
         num_evicted = len(node.value)