diff --git a/db/c.cc b/db/c.cc
index cac977ee9..e196d0177 100644
--- a/db/c.cc
+++ b/db/c.cc
@@ -504,13 +504,13 @@ rocksdb_t* rocksdb_open_with_ttl(
   return result;
 }
 
-rocksdb_t* rocksdb_open_for_read_only(
-    const rocksdb_options_t* options,
-    const char* name,
-    unsigned char error_if_log_file_exist,
-    char** errptr) {
+rocksdb_t* rocksdb_open_for_read_only(const rocksdb_options_t* options,
+                                      const char* name,
+                                      unsigned char error_if_wal_file_exists,
+                                      char** errptr) {
   DB* db;
-  if (SaveError(errptr, DB::OpenForReadOnly(options->rep, std::string(name), &db, error_if_log_file_exist))) {
+  if (SaveError(errptr, DB::OpenForReadOnly(options->rep, std::string(name),
+                                            &db, error_if_wal_file_exists))) {
     return nullptr;
   }
   rocksdb_t* result = new rocksdb_t;
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ rocksdb_t* rocksdb_open_for_read_only_column_families(
     int num_column_families, const char* const* column_family_names,
     const rocksdb_options_t* const* column_family_options,
     rocksdb_column_family_handle_t** column_family_handles,
-    unsigned char error_if_log_file_exist, char** errptr) {
+    unsigned char error_if_wal_file_exists, char** errptr) {
   std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor> column_families;
   for (int i = 0; i < num_column_families; i++) {
     column_families.push_back(ColumnFamilyDescriptor(
@@ -757,8 +757,10 @@ rocksdb_t* rocksdb_open_for_read_only_column_families(
 
   DB* db;
   std::vector<ColumnFamilyHandle*> handles;
-  if (SaveError(errptr, DB::OpenForReadOnly(DBOptions(db_options->rep),
-          std::string(name), column_families, &handles, &db, error_if_log_file_exist))) {
+  if (SaveError(errptr,
+                DB::OpenForReadOnly(DBOptions(db_options->rep),
+                                    std::string(name), column_families,
+                                    &handles, &db, error_if_wal_file_exists))) {
     return nullptr;
   }
 
diff --git a/db/db_impl/db_impl.h b/db/db_impl/db_impl.h
index 48607c7b1..30b1e9c95 100644
--- a/db/db_impl/db_impl.h
+++ b/db/db_impl/db_impl.h
@@ -1186,8 +1186,8 @@ class DBImpl : public DB {
   // skipped.
   virtual Status Recover(
       const std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor>& column_families,
-      bool read_only = false, bool error_if_log_file_exist = false,
-      bool error_if_data_exists_in_logs = false,
+      bool read_only = false, bool error_if_wal_file_exists = false,
+      bool error_if_data_exists_in_wals = false,
       uint64_t* recovered_seq = nullptr);
 
   virtual bool OwnTablesAndLogs() const { return true; }
diff --git a/db/db_impl/db_impl_open.cc b/db/db_impl/db_impl_open.cc
index 659ac1b7e..b3cd8dd8e 100644
--- a/db/db_impl/db_impl_open.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl/db_impl_open.cc
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ IOStatus Directories::SetDirectories(FileSystem* fs, const std::string& dbname,
 
 Status DBImpl::Recover(
     const std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor>& column_families, bool read_only,
-    bool error_if_log_file_exist, bool error_if_data_exists_in_logs,
+    bool error_if_wal_file_exists, bool error_if_data_exists_in_wals,
     uint64_t* recovered_seq) {
   mutex_.AssertHeld();
 
@@ -588,11 +588,11 @@ Status DBImpl::Recover(
     }
 
     if (logs.size() > 0) {
-      if (error_if_log_file_exist) {
+      if (error_if_wal_file_exists) {
         return Status::Corruption(
-            "The db was opened in readonly mode with error_if_log_file_exist"
-            "flag but a log file already exists");
-      } else if (error_if_data_exists_in_logs) {
+            "The db was opened in readonly mode with error_if_wal_file_exists"
+            "flag but a WAL file already exists");
+      } else if (error_if_data_exists_in_wals) {
         for (auto& log : logs) {
           std::string fname = LogFileName(immutable_db_options_.wal_dir, log);
           uint64_t bytes;
@@ -600,8 +600,8 @@ Status DBImpl::Recover(
           if (s.ok()) {
             if (bytes > 0) {
               return Status::Corruption(
-                  "error_if_data_exists_in_logs is set but there are data "
-                  " in log files.");
+                  "error_if_data_exists_in_wals is set but there are data "
+                  " in WAL files.");
             }
           }
         }
diff --git a/db/db_impl/db_impl_readonly.cc b/db/db_impl/db_impl_readonly.cc
index 7c277206f..84d03863d 100644
--- a/db/db_impl/db_impl_readonly.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl/db_impl_readonly.cc
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ Status OpenForReadOnlyCheckExistence(const DBOptions& db_options,
 }  // namespace
 
 Status DB::OpenForReadOnly(const Options& options, const std::string& dbname,
-                           DB** dbptr, bool /*error_if_log_file_exist*/) {
+                           DB** dbptr, bool /*error_if_wal_file_exists*/) {
   // If dbname does not exist in the file system, should not do anything
   Status s = OpenForReadOnlyCheckExistence(options, dbname);
   if (!s.ok()) {
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ Status DB::OpenForReadOnly(
     const DBOptions& db_options, const std::string& dbname,
     const std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor>& column_families,
     std::vector<ColumnFamilyHandle*>* handles, DB** dbptr,
-    bool error_if_log_file_exist) {
+    bool error_if_wal_file_exists) {
   // If dbname does not exist in the file system, should not do anything
   Status s = OpenForReadOnlyCheckExistence(db_options, dbname);
   if (!s.ok()) {
@@ -197,14 +197,14 @@ Status DB::OpenForReadOnly(
 
   return DBImplReadOnly::OpenForReadOnlyWithoutCheck(
       db_options, dbname, column_families, handles, dbptr,
-      error_if_log_file_exist);
+      error_if_wal_file_exists);
 }
 
 Status DBImplReadOnly::OpenForReadOnlyWithoutCheck(
     const DBOptions& db_options, const std::string& dbname,
     const std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor>& column_families,
     std::vector<ColumnFamilyHandle*>* handles, DB** dbptr,
-    bool error_if_log_file_exist) {
+    bool error_if_wal_file_exists) {
   *dbptr = nullptr;
   handles->clear();
 
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ Status DBImplReadOnly::OpenForReadOnlyWithoutCheck(
   DBImplReadOnly* impl = new DBImplReadOnly(db_options, dbname);
   impl->mutex_.Lock();
   Status s = impl->Recover(column_families, true /* read only */,
-                           error_if_log_file_exist);
+                           error_if_wal_file_exists);
   if (s.ok()) {
     // set column family handles
     for (auto cf : column_families) {
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ Status DBImplReadOnly::OpenForReadOnlyWithoutCheck(
 
 Status DB::OpenForReadOnly(const Options& /*options*/,
                            const std::string& /*dbname*/, DB** /*dbptr*/,
-                           bool /*error_if_log_file_exist*/) {
+                           bool /*error_if_wal_file_exists*/) {
   return Status::NotSupported("Not supported in ROCKSDB_LITE.");
 }
 
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ Status DB::OpenForReadOnly(
     const DBOptions& /*db_options*/, const std::string& /*dbname*/,
     const std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor>& /*column_families*/,
     std::vector<ColumnFamilyHandle*>* /*handles*/, DB** /*dbptr*/,
-    bool /*error_if_log_file_exist*/) {
+    bool /*error_if_wal_file_exists*/) {
   return Status::NotSupported("Not supported in ROCKSDB_LITE.");
 }
 #endif  // !ROCKSDB_LITE
diff --git a/db/db_impl/db_impl_readonly.h b/db/db_impl/db_impl_readonly.h
index c19a43899..090d67d0f 100644
--- a/db/db_impl/db_impl_readonly.h
+++ b/db/db_impl/db_impl_readonly.h
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class DBImplReadOnly : public DBImpl {
       const DBOptions& db_options, const std::string& dbname,
       const std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor>& column_families,
       std::vector<ColumnFamilyHandle*>* handles, DB** dbptr,
-      bool error_if_log_file_exist = false);
+      bool error_if_wal_file_exists = false);
   friend class DB;
 };
 }  // namespace ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE
diff --git a/db/db_impl/db_impl_secondary.cc b/db/db_impl/db_impl_secondary.cc
index 63fb1c1db..ce04f0663 100644
--- a/db/db_impl/db_impl_secondary.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl/db_impl_secondary.cc
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ DBImplSecondary::~DBImplSecondary() {}
 
 Status DBImplSecondary::Recover(
     const std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor>& column_families,
-    bool /*readonly*/, bool /*error_if_log_file_exist*/,
-    bool /*error_if_data_exists_in_logs*/, uint64_t*) {
+    bool /*readonly*/, bool /*error_if_wal_file_exists*/,
+    bool /*error_if_data_exists_in_wals*/, uint64_t*) {
   mutex_.AssertHeld();
 
   JobContext job_context(0);
diff --git a/db/db_impl/db_impl_secondary.h b/db/db_impl/db_impl_secondary.h
index 24f2e7767..8fc58616f 100644
--- a/db/db_impl/db_impl_secondary.h
+++ b/db/db_impl/db_impl_secondary.h
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ class DBImplSecondary : public DBImpl {
   // Recover by replaying MANIFEST and WAL. Also initialize manifest_reader_
   // and log_readers_ to facilitate future operations.
   Status Recover(const std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor>& column_families,
-                 bool read_only, bool error_if_log_file_exist,
-                 bool error_if_data_exists_in_logs,
+                 bool read_only, bool error_if_wal_file_exists,
+                 bool error_if_data_exists_in_wals,
                  uint64_t* = nullptr) override;
 
   // Implementations of the DB interface
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/c.h b/include/rocksdb/c.h
index 74ff9349b..b8c72ae75 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/c.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/c.h
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ extern ROCKSDB_LIBRARY_API rocksdb_t* rocksdb_open_with_ttl(
 
 extern ROCKSDB_LIBRARY_API rocksdb_t* rocksdb_open_for_read_only(
     const rocksdb_options_t* options, const char* name,
-    unsigned char error_if_log_file_exist, char** errptr);
+    unsigned char error_if_wal_file_exists, char** errptr);
 
 extern ROCKSDB_LIBRARY_API rocksdb_t* rocksdb_open_as_secondary(
     const rocksdb_options_t* options, const char* name,
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ rocksdb_open_for_read_only_column_families(
     const char* const* column_family_names,
     const rocksdb_options_t* const* column_family_options,
     rocksdb_column_family_handle_t** column_family_handles,
-    unsigned char error_if_log_file_exist, char** errptr);
+    unsigned char error_if_wal_file_exists, char** errptr);
 
 extern ROCKSDB_LIBRARY_API rocksdb_t* rocksdb_open_as_secondary_column_families(
     const rocksdb_options_t* options, const char* name,
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/db.h b/include/rocksdb/db.h
index d6b02ab74..7a6e06b92 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/db.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/db.h
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ class DB {
   // return Status::NotSupported.
   static Status OpenForReadOnly(const Options& options, const std::string& name,
                                 DB** dbptr,
-                                bool error_if_log_file_exist = false);
+                                bool error_if_wal_file_exists = false);
 
   // Open the database for read only with column families. When opening DB with
   // read only, you can specify only a subset of column families in the
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ class DB {
       const DBOptions& db_options, const std::string& name,
       const std::vector<ColumnFamilyDescriptor>& column_families,
       std::vector<ColumnFamilyHandle*>* handles, DB** dbptr,
-      bool error_if_log_file_exist = false);
+      bool error_if_wal_file_exists = false);
 
   // The following OpenAsSecondary functions create a secondary instance that
   // can dynamically tail the MANIFEST of a primary that must have already been
diff --git a/java/rocksjni/rocksjni.cc b/java/rocksjni/rocksjni.cc
index 5221f1ed3..0f463e9b3 100644
--- a/java/rocksjni/rocksjni.cc
+++ b/java/rocksjni/rocksjni.cc
@@ -72,15 +72,19 @@ jlong Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_open__JLjava_lang_String_2(
 /*
  * Class:     org_rocksdb_RocksDB
  * Method:    openROnly
- * Signature: (JLjava/lang/String;)J
+ * Signature: (JLjava/lang/String;Z)J
  */
-jlong Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_openROnly__JLjava_lang_String_2(
-    JNIEnv* env, jclass, jlong jopt_handle, jstring jdb_path) {
+jlong Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_openROnly__JLjava_lang_String_2Z(
+    JNIEnv* env, jclass, jlong jopt_handle, jstring jdb_path,
+    jboolean jerror_if_wal_file_exists) {
+  const bool error_if_wal_file_exists = jerror_if_wal_file_exists == JNI_TRUE;
   return rocksdb_open_helper(
       env, jopt_handle, jdb_path,
-      [](const ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::Options& options, const std::string& db_path,
-         ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::DB** db) {
-        return ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::DB::OpenForReadOnly(options, db_path, db);
+      [error_if_wal_file_exists](const ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::Options& options,
+                                 const std::string& db_path,
+                                 ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::DB** db) {
+        return ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::DB::OpenForReadOnly(options, db_path, db,
+                                                      error_if_wal_file_exists);
       });
 }
 
@@ -172,21 +176,25 @@ jlongArray rocksdb_open_helper(
 /*
  * Class:     org_rocksdb_RocksDB
  * Method:    openROnly
- * Signature: (JLjava/lang/String;[[B[J)[J
+ * Signature: (JLjava/lang/String;[[B[JZ)[J
  */
-jlongArray Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_openROnly__JLjava_lang_String_2_3_3B_3J(
+jlongArray Java_org_rocksdb_RocksDB_openROnly__JLjava_lang_String_2_3_3B_3JZ(
     JNIEnv* env, jclass, jlong jopt_handle, jstring jdb_path,
-    jobjectArray jcolumn_names, jlongArray jcolumn_options) {
+    jobjectArray jcolumn_names, jlongArray jcolumn_options,
+    jboolean jerror_if_wal_file_exists) {
+  const bool error_if_wal_file_exists = jerror_if_wal_file_exists == JNI_TRUE;
   return rocksdb_open_helper(
       env, jopt_handle, jdb_path, jcolumn_names, jcolumn_options,
-      [](const ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::DBOptions& options,
-         const std::string& db_path,
-         const std::vector<ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::ColumnFamilyDescriptor>&
-             column_families,
-         std::vector<ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::ColumnFamilyHandle*>* handles,
-         ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::DB** db) {
+      [error_if_wal_file_exists](
+          const ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::DBOptions& options,
+          const std::string& db_path,
+          const std::vector<ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::ColumnFamilyDescriptor>&
+              column_families,
+          std::vector<ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::ColumnFamilyHandle*>* handles,
+          ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::DB** db) {
         return ROCKSDB_NAMESPACE::DB::OpenForReadOnly(
-            options, db_path, column_families, handles, db);
+            options, db_path, column_families, handles, db,
+            error_if_wal_file_exists);
       });
 }
 
diff --git a/java/src/main/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java b/java/src/main/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java
index a66c8077c..471a9bbd9 100644
--- a/java/src/main/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java
+++ b/java/src/main/java/org/rocksdb/RocksDB.java
@@ -329,10 +329,61 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
       throws RocksDBException {
     // This allows to use the rocksjni default Options instead of
     // the c++ one.
-    Options options = new Options();
+    final Options options = new Options();
     return openReadOnly(options, path);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The factory constructor of RocksDB that opens a RocksDB instance in
+   * Read-Only mode given the path to the database using the specified
+   * options and db path.
+   *
+   * Options instance *should* not be disposed before all DBs using this options
+   * instance have been closed. If user doesn't call options dispose explicitly,
+   * then this options instance will be GC'd automatically.
+   *
+   * @param options {@link Options} instance.
+   * @param path the path to the RocksDB.
+   * @return a {@link RocksDB} instance on success, null if the specified
+   *     {@link RocksDB} can not be opened.
+   *
+   * @throws RocksDBException thrown if error happens in underlying
+   *    native library.
+   */
+  public static RocksDB openReadOnly(final Options options, final String path)
+      throws RocksDBException {
+    return openReadOnly(options, path, false);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The factory constructor of RocksDB that opens a RocksDB instance in
+   * Read-Only mode given the path to the database using the specified
+   * options and db path.
+   *
+   * Options instance *should* not be disposed before all DBs using this options
+   * instance have been closed. If user doesn't call options dispose explicitly,
+   * then this options instance will be GC'd automatically.
+   *
+   * @param options {@link Options} instance.
+   * @param path the path to the RocksDB.
+   * @param errorIfWalFileExists true to raise an error when opening the db
+   *            if a Write Ahead Log file exists, false otherwise.
+   * @return a {@link RocksDB} instance on success, null if the specified
+   *     {@link RocksDB} can not be opened.
+   *
+   * @throws RocksDBException thrown if error happens in underlying
+   *    native library.
+   */
+  public static RocksDB openReadOnly(final Options options, final String path,
+      final boolean errorIfWalFileExists) throws RocksDBException {
+    // when non-default Options is used, keeping an Options reference
+    // in RocksDB can prevent Java to GC during the life-time of
+    // the currently-created RocksDB.
+    final RocksDB db = new RocksDB(openROnly(options.nativeHandle_, path, errorIfWalFileExists));
+    db.storeOptionsInstance(options);
+    return db;
+  }
+
   /**
    * The factory constructor of RocksDB that opens a RocksDB instance in
    * Read-Only mode given the path to the database using the default
@@ -355,35 +406,7 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
     // This allows to use the rocksjni default Options instead of
     // the c++ one.
     final DBOptions options = new DBOptions();
-    return openReadOnly(options, path, columnFamilyDescriptors,
-        columnFamilyHandles);
-  }
-
-  /**
-   * The factory constructor of RocksDB that opens a RocksDB instance in
-   * Read-Only mode given the path to the database using the specified
-   * options and db path.
-   *
-   * Options instance *should* not be disposed before all DBs using this options
-   * instance have been closed. If user doesn't call options dispose explicitly,
-   * then this options instance will be GC'd automatically.
-   *
-   * @param options {@link Options} instance.
-   * @param path the path to the RocksDB.
-   * @return a {@link RocksDB} instance on success, null if the specified
-   *     {@link RocksDB} can not be opened.
-   *
-   * @throws RocksDBException thrown if error happens in underlying
-   *    native library.
-   */
-  public static RocksDB openReadOnly(final Options options, final String path)
-      throws RocksDBException {
-    // when non-default Options is used, keeping an Options reference
-    // in RocksDB can prevent Java to GC during the life-time of
-    // the currently-created RocksDB.
-    final RocksDB db = new RocksDB(openROnly(options.nativeHandle_, path));
-    db.storeOptionsInstance(options);
-    return db;
+    return openReadOnly(options, path, columnFamilyDescriptors, columnFamilyHandles, false);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -410,7 +433,37 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
    */
   public static RocksDB openReadOnly(final DBOptions options, final String path,
       final List<ColumnFamilyDescriptor> columnFamilyDescriptors,
-      final List<ColumnFamilyHandle> columnFamilyHandles)
+      final List<ColumnFamilyHandle> columnFamilyHandles) throws RocksDBException {
+    return openReadOnly(options, path, columnFamilyDescriptors, columnFamilyHandles, false);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The factory constructor of RocksDB that opens a RocksDB instance in
+   * Read-Only mode given the path to the database using the specified
+   * options and db path.
+   *
+   * <p>This open method allows to open RocksDB using a subset of available
+   * column families</p>
+   * <p>Options instance *should* not be disposed before all DBs using this
+   * options instance have been closed. If user doesn't call options dispose
+   * explicitly,then this options instance will be GC'd automatically.</p>
+   *
+   * @param options {@link DBOptions} instance.
+   * @param path the path to the RocksDB.
+   * @param columnFamilyDescriptors list of column family descriptors
+   * @param columnFamilyHandles will be filled with ColumnFamilyHandle instances
+   *     on open.
+   * @param errorIfWalFileExists true to raise an error when opening the db
+   *            if a Write Ahead Log file exists, false otherwise.
+   * @return a {@link RocksDB} instance on success, null if the specified
+   *     {@link RocksDB} can not be opened.
+   *
+   * @throws RocksDBException thrown if error happens in underlying
+   *    native library.
+   */
+  public static RocksDB openReadOnly(final DBOptions options, final String path,
+      final List<ColumnFamilyDescriptor> columnFamilyDescriptors,
+      final List<ColumnFamilyHandle> columnFamilyHandles, final boolean errorIfWalFileExists)
       throws RocksDBException {
     // when non-default Options is used, keeping an Options reference
     // in RocksDB can prevent Java to GC during the life-time of
@@ -425,8 +478,8 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
       cfOptionHandles[i] = cfDescriptor.getOptions().nativeHandle_;
     }
 
-    final long[] handles = openROnly(options.nativeHandle_, path, cfNames,
-        cfOptionHandles);
+    final long[] handles =
+        openROnly(options.nativeHandle_, path, cfNames, cfOptionHandles, errorIfWalFileExists);
     final RocksDB db = new RocksDB(handles[0]);
     db.storeOptionsInstance(options);
 
@@ -4381,8 +4434,8 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
       final String path, final byte[][] columnFamilyNames,
       final long[] columnFamilyOptions) throws RocksDBException;
 
-  private native static long openROnly(final long optionsHandle,
-      final String path) throws RocksDBException;
+  private native static long openROnly(final long optionsHandle, final String path,
+      final boolean errorIfWalFileExists) throws RocksDBException;
 
   /**
    * @param optionsHandle Native handle pointing to an Options object
@@ -4396,10 +4449,9 @@ public class RocksDB extends RocksObject {
    *
    * @throws RocksDBException thrown if the database could not be opened
    */
-  private native static long[] openROnly(final long optionsHandle,
-      final String path, final byte[][] columnFamilyNames,
-      final long[] columnFamilyOptions
-  ) throws RocksDBException;
+  private native static long[] openROnly(final long optionsHandle, final String path,
+      final byte[][] columnFamilyNames, final long[] columnFamilyOptions,
+      final boolean errorIfWalFileExists) throws RocksDBException;
 
   private native static long openAsSecondary(final long optionsHandle, final String path,
       final String secondaryPath) throws RocksDBException;
diff --git a/java/src/test/java/org/rocksdb/ReadOnlyTest.java b/java/src/test/java/org/rocksdb/ReadOnlyTest.java
index 6d5bc96fc..ad6e746aa 100644
--- a/java/src/test/java/org/rocksdb/ReadOnlyTest.java
+++ b/java/src/test/java/org/rocksdb/ReadOnlyTest.java
@@ -302,4 +302,31 @@ public class ReadOnlyTest {
       }
     }
   }
+
+  @Test(expected = RocksDBException.class)
+  public void errorIfWalFileExists() throws RocksDBException {
+    try (final Options options = new Options().setCreateIfMissing(true);
+         final RocksDB db = RocksDB.open(options, dbFolder.getRoot().getAbsolutePath())) {
+      // no-op
+    }
+
+    try (final ColumnFamilyOptions cfOpts = new ColumnFamilyOptions()) {
+      final List<ColumnFamilyDescriptor> cfDescriptors =
+          Arrays.asList(new ColumnFamilyDescriptor(RocksDB.DEFAULT_COLUMN_FAMILY, cfOpts));
+
+      final List<ColumnFamilyHandle> readOnlyColumnFamilyHandleList = new ArrayList<>();
+      try (final DBOptions options = new DBOptions();
+           final RocksDB rDb = RocksDB.openReadOnly(options, dbFolder.getRoot().getAbsolutePath(),
+               cfDescriptors, readOnlyColumnFamilyHandleList, true);) {
+        try {
+          // no-op... should have raised an error as errorIfWalFileExists=true
+
+        } finally {
+          for (final ColumnFamilyHandle columnFamilyHandle : readOnlyColumnFamilyHandleList) {
+            columnFamilyHandle.close();
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }