diff --git a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/sharded_store.cc b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/sharded_store.cc
index 67e15dc180a1..0fc747e06fd0 100644
--- a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/sharded_store.cc
+++ b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/sharded_store.cc
@@ -477,12 +477,12 @@ sharded_store::get_subject_version_written_at(subject sub, schema_version ver) {
       });
 }
 
-ss::future<bool>
-sharded_store::delete_subject_version(subject sub, schema_version ver) {
+ss::future<bool> sharded_store::delete_subject_version(
+  subject sub, schema_version ver, force force) {
     auto sub_shard{shard_for(sub)};
     co_return co_await _store.invoke_on(
-      sub_shard, _smp_opts, [sub{std::move(sub)}, ver](store& s) {
-          return s.delete_subject_version(sub, ver).value();
+      sub_shard, _smp_opts, [sub{std::move(sub)}, ver, force](store& s) {
+          return s.delete_subject_version(sub, ver, force).value();
       });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/sharded_store.h b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/sharded_store.h
index c6473f0e6bc6..798fa7e62c4d 100644
--- a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/sharded_store.h
+++ b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/sharded_store.h
@@ -113,8 +113,9 @@ class sharded_store {
     get_subject_version_written_at(subject sub, schema_version version);
 
     ///\brief Delete a subject version
-    ss::future<bool>
-    delete_subject_version(subject sub, schema_version version);
+    /// \param force Override checks for soft-delete first.
+    ss::future<bool> delete_subject_version(
+      subject sub, schema_version version, force f = force::no);
 
     ///\brief Get the global compatibility level.
     ss::future<compatibility_level> get_compatibility();
diff --git a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/storage.h b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/storage.h
index 39bfb98532d1..b39ab8a1898a 100644
--- a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/storage.h
+++ b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/storage.h
@@ -1243,7 +1243,7 @@ struct consume_to_store {
             if (!val) {
                 try {
                     co_await _store.delete_subject_version(
-                      key.sub, key.version);
+                      key.sub, key.version, force::yes);
                 } catch (exception& e) {
                     // This is allowed to throw not_found errors.  When we
                     // tombstone all the records referring to a particular
diff --git a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/store.h b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/store.h
index 456424e64651..a785354922a8 100644
--- a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/store.h
+++ b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/store.h
@@ -428,16 +428,19 @@ class store {
     }
 
     ///\brief Delete a subject version.
-    result<bool>
-    delete_subject_version(const subject& sub, schema_version version) {
+    result<bool> delete_subject_version(
+      const subject& sub, schema_version version, force force = force::no) {
         auto sub_it = BOOST_OUTCOME_TRYX(
           get_subject_iter(sub, include_deleted::yes));
         auto& versions = sub_it->second.versions;
         auto v_it = BOOST_OUTCOME_TRYX(
           get_version_iter(*sub_it, version, include_deleted::yes));
 
-        // A hard delete should always be preceded by a soft delete
-        if (!(v_it->deleted || sub_it->second.deleted)) {
+        // A hard delete should always be preceded by a soft delete,
+        // however, due to compaction, it's possible that a soft-delete does not
+        // appear on the topic. The topic is still correct, so override the
+        // check if force::yes.
+        if (!force && !(v_it->deleted || sub_it->second.deleted)) {
             return not_deleted(sub, version);
         }
 
diff --git a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/test/consume_to_store.cc b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/test/consume_to_store.cc
index 7fb28f1303f6..3c5e3e4ffa3f 100644
--- a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/test/consume_to_store.cc
+++ b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/test/consume_to_store.cc
@@ -191,3 +191,65 @@ SEASTAR_THREAD_TEST_CASE(test_consume_to_store) {
     auto sub_res = s.get_subjects(pps::include_deleted::no).get();
     BOOST_REQUIRE_EQUAL(sub_res.size(), 0);
 }
+
+template<typename Key>
+model::record_batch as_record_batch(Key key) {
+    storage::record_batch_builder rb{
+      model::record_batch_type::raft_data, model::offset{0}};
+    rb.add_raw_kv(to_json_iobuf(std::move(key)), std::nullopt);
+    return std::move(rb).build();
+}
+
+SEASTAR_THREAD_TEST_CASE(test_consume_to_store_after_compaction) {
+    pps::sharded_store s;
+    s.start(ss::default_smp_service_group()).get();
+    auto stop_store = ss::defer([&s]() { s.stop().get(); });
+
+    // This kafka client will not be used by the sequencer
+    // (which itself is only instantiated to receive consume_to_store's
+    //  offset updates), is just needed for constructor;
+    ss::sharded<kafka::client::client> dummy_kafka_client;
+    dummy_kafka_client
+      .start(
+        to_yaml(kafka::client::configuration{}, config::redact_secrets::no))
+      .get();
+    auto stop_kafka_client = ss::defer(
+      [&dummy_kafka_client]() { dummy_kafka_client.stop().get(); });
+
+    ss::sharded<pps::seq_writer> seq;
+    seq
+      .start(
+        model::node_id{0},
+        ss::default_smp_service_group(),
+        std::reference_wrapper(dummy_kafka_client),
+        std::reference_wrapper(s))
+      .get();
+    auto stop_seq = ss::defer([&seq]() { seq.stop().get(); });
+
+    auto c = pps::consume_to_store(s, seq.local());
+
+    auto sequence = model::offset{0};
+    const auto node_id = model::node_id{123};
+
+    // Insert the schema at seq 0
+    auto good_schema_1 = pps::as_record_batch(
+      pps::schema_key{sequence, node_id, subject0, version0, magic1},
+      pps::canonical_schema_value{{subject0, string_def0}, version0, id0});
+    BOOST_REQUIRE_NO_THROW(c(good_schema_1.copy()).get());
+    // Roll the segment
+    // Soft delete the version (at seq 1)
+    // Perm delete the version (at seq 1)
+    // Compact that away, so we have a gap
+    // Restart
+    // Delete seq0, version 0, it now appears as not soft-deleted
+    auto perm_delete_schema_1 = as_record_batch(
+      pps::schema_key{sequence, node_id, subject0, version0, magic1});
+    BOOST_REQUIRE_NO_THROW(c(perm_delete_schema_1.copy()).get());
+
+    BOOST_REQUIRE_EXCEPTION(
+      s.get_versions(subject0, pps::include_deleted::yes).get(),
+      pps::exception,
+      [](pps::exception e) {
+          return e.code() == pps::error_code::subject_not_found;
+      });
+}
diff --git a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/types.h b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/types.h
index 613382e0a8d9..1fb3d6d24839 100644
--- a/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/types.h
+++ b/src/v/pandaproxy/schema_registry/types.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ using permanent_delete = ss::bool_class<struct delete_tag>;
 using include_deleted = ss::bool_class<struct include_deleted_tag>;
 using is_deleted = ss::bool_class<struct is_deleted_tag>;
 using default_to_global = ss::bool_class<struct default_to_global_tag>;
+using force = ss::bool_class<struct force_tag>;
 
 template<typename E>
 std::enable_if_t<std::is_enum_v<E>, std::optional<E>>