diff --git a/bin/tests/system/dnssec/tests_validation.py b/bin/tests/system/dnssec/tests_validation.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c7f1ddca0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bin/tests/system/dnssec/tests_validation.py
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# Copyright (C) Internet Systems Consortium, Inc. ("ISC")
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
+#
+# This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
+# License, v. 2.0.  If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
+# file, you can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
+#
+# See the COPYRIGHT file distributed with this work for additional
+# information regarding copyright ownership.
+
+
+from dns import rdatatype
+
+import pytest
+
+import isctest
+import isctest.mark
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.extra_artifacts(
+    [
+        "*/K*",
+        "*/NSEC*",
+        "*/dsset-*",
+        "*/*.bk",
+        "*/*.conf",
+        "*/*.db",
+        "*/*.id",
+        "*/*.jnl",
+        "*/*.jbk",
+        "*/*.key",
+        "*/*.signed",
+        "*/settime.out.*",
+        "ans*/ans.run",
+        "*/trusted.keys",
+        "*/*.bad",
+        "*/*.next",
+        "*/*.stripped",
+        "*/*.tmp",
+        "*/*.stage?",
+        "*/*.patched",
+        "*/*.lower",
+        "*/*.upper",
+        "*/*.unsplit",
+    ]
+)
+
+
+def test_positive_validation_dname_at_apex():
+    # an apex DNAME is signed by the DNSKEY living at the DNAME owner
+    # name itself; fetching that key must not be mistaken for a
+    # non-advancing alias chain (GL #6176)
+    msg = isctest.query.create("a.dname-at-apex-nsec3.example", "A")
+    res = isctest.query.tcp(msg, "10.53.0.4")
+    isctest.check.noerror(res)
+    isctest.check.adflag(res)
+    answers = {(str(rr.name), rr.rdtype) for rr in res.answer}
+    assert ("dname-at-apex-nsec3.example.", rdatatype.DNAME) in answers
+    assert ("a.example.", rdatatype.A) in answers
diff --git a/lib/dns/validator.c b/lib/dns/validator.c
index 10108d7501..84fbfd5789 100644
--- a/lib/dns/validator.c
+++ b/lib/dns/validator.c
@@ -993,12 +993,18 @@ check_deadlock(dns_validator_t *val, dns_name_t *name, dns_rdatatype_t type,
 		}
 
 		/*
-		 * Validating a CNAME/DNAME ("chaining" rdataset): a fetch at
-		 * the alias's own name cannot advance the chain (the type we
-		 * need, e.g. DS/DNSKEY for an insecurity proof, cannot live at
-		 * an alias) and would only self-join the in-flight fetch.
+		 * Validating a chaining CNAME: a fetch at the alias's own
+		 * name cannot advance the chain (no other type can live at
+		 * a CNAME owner, so e.g. the DS/DNSKEY needed for an
+		 * insecurity proof cannot be there) and would only
+		 * self-join the in-flight fetch.  A chaining DNAME is
+		 * different: it aliases only the names below its owner, so
+		 * the owner itself may legitimately hold the DNSKEY or DS
+		 * this validation needs (e.g. a DNAME at a zone apex).
 		 */
-		if (cur->rdataset != NULL && CHAINING(cur->rdataset)) {
+		if (cur->rdataset != NULL && CHAINING(cur->rdataset) &&
+		    cur->rdataset->type == dns_rdatatype_cname)
+		{
 			validator_log(
 				val, ISC_LOG_DEBUG(3),
 				"fetch would not advance the alias chain: "