diff --git a/program-runtime/src/accounts_data_meter.rs b/program-runtime/src/accounts_data_meter.rs
index faf2524123ca1f..2c8def20476e30 100644
--- a/program-runtime/src/accounts_data_meter.rs
+++ b/program-runtime/src/accounts_data_meter.rs
@@ -75,14 +75,20 @@ impl AccountsDataMeter {
 
     /// Consume accounts data space, in bytes.  If `amount` is positive, we are *increasing* the
     /// amount of accounts data space used.  If `amount` is negative, we are *decreasing* the
-    /// amount of accounts data space used.
+    /// amount of accounts data space used.  If `amount` is greater than the remaining space,
+    /// return an error and *do not* consume more accounts data space.
     pub fn consume(&mut self, amount: i64) -> Result<(), InstructionError> {
         if amount > self.remaining() as i64 {
             return Err(InstructionError::AccountsDataBudgetExceeded);
         }
-        self.delta = self.delta.saturating_add(amount);
+        self.consume_unchecked(amount);
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    /// Unconditionally consume accounts data space.  Refer to `consume()` for more documentation.
+    pub fn consume_unchecked(&mut self, amount: i64) {
+        self.delta = self.delta.saturating_add(amount);
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/program-runtime/src/invoke_context.rs b/program-runtime/src/invoke_context.rs
index 33f4eb69d95acd..42aba3e517d5ac 100644
--- a/program-runtime/src/invoke_context.rs
+++ b/program-runtime/src/invoke_context.rs
@@ -500,11 +500,13 @@ impl<'a> InvokeContext<'a> {
                 .checked_add(u128::from(account.lamports()))
                 .ok_or(InstructionError::UnbalancedInstruction)?;
 
+            let pre_data_len = pre_account.data().len() as i64;
+            let post_data_len = account.data().len() as i64;
+            let data_len_delta = post_data_len.saturating_sub(pre_data_len);
             if cap_accounts_data_len {
-                let pre_data_len = pre_account.data().len() as i64;
-                let post_data_len = account.data().len() as i64;
-                let data_len_delta = post_data_len.saturating_sub(pre_data_len);
                 self.accounts_data_meter.consume(data_len_delta)?;
+            } else {
+                self.accounts_data_meter.consume_unchecked(data_len_delta);
             }
 
             Ok(())
@@ -591,11 +593,13 @@ impl<'a> InvokeContext<'a> {
                             pre_account.update(account.clone());
                         }
 
+                        let pre_data_len = pre_account.data().len() as i64;
+                        let post_data_len = account.data().len() as i64;
+                        let data_len_delta = post_data_len.saturating_sub(pre_data_len);
                         if cap_accounts_data_len {
-                            let pre_data_len = pre_account.data().len() as i64;
-                            let post_data_len = account.data().len() as i64;
-                            let data_len_delta = post_data_len.saturating_sub(pre_data_len);
                             self.accounts_data_meter.consume(data_len_delta)?;
+                        } else {
+                            self.accounts_data_meter.consume_unchecked(data_len_delta);
                         }
 
                         return Ok(());
diff --git a/runtime/src/bank.rs b/runtime/src/bank.rs
index 1def36220d439f..77ea18faaafe4b 100644
--- a/runtime/src/bank.rs
+++ b/runtime/src/bank.rs
@@ -4161,7 +4161,7 @@ impl Bank {
     }
 
     /// Update the accounts data len by adding `delta`.  Since `delta` is signed, negative values
-    /// are allowed as the means to subtract from `accounts_data_len`.
+    /// are allowed as the means to subtract from `accounts_data_len`.  The arithmetic saturates.
     fn update_accounts_data_len(&self, delta: i64) {
         /// Mixed integer ops currently not stable, so copying the impl.
         /// Copied from: https://github.com/a1phyr/rust/blob/47edde1086412b36e9efd6098b191ec15a2a760a/library/core/src/num/uint_macros.rs#L1039-L1048
@@ -4609,11 +4609,7 @@ impl Bank {
             .write()
             .unwrap()
             .extend(rent_debits.into_unordered_rewards_iter());
-        if self
-            .feature_set
-            .is_active(&feature_set::cap_accounts_data_len::id())
-            && total_collected.account_data_len_reclaimed > 0
-        {
+        if total_collected.account_data_len_reclaimed > 0 {
             self.update_accounts_data_len(-(total_collected.account_data_len_reclaimed as i64));
         }